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Playing Football in the Coldest Capital City in the World – An Inside Look at Football in Mongolia

On September 21st 2023, FC Ulaanbaatar became the first Mongolian team to record a win in the final round of the Asian Football Confederation Cup after their 3-1 victory against Taiwanese side Tainan City FC.

There is real optimism around the club at the moment. Another win in the reverse fixture against Tainan City on November 30 would give FC Ulaanbaatar their fourth win in Group I and qualification into the knockout stages.

On the opposite side, Tainan City may feel extremely fortunate with how the fixtures were formulated in the group stage and that the team will be able to play FC Ulaanbaatar at home during this stage of the year. 

Playing football in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in November is complex.

 

The average temperature for the city in November is a high of -5°C and a low of -19° C. For January, the average low temperature is -29° C. The winters there have ventured past the characterization of frosty. Bone-chilling seems to be more apt.

Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city in the world. There are multiple factors that affect the chilly climate. Elevation plays a critical role when examining a city’s weather patterns. At roughly 1,350 meters above sea level, Ulaanbaatar, is the 20th highest capital city in the world. The country is landlocked and secluded away from any coasts. Oceans help to regulate the global climate with currents compared to a ‘conveyor belt’ by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Embed from Getty Images

No access to the ocean generates the possibilities for extreme climate patterns. A third aspect blends in to produce distinctive weather conditions. 

The Siberian Anticyclone, is an area of high pressure located in Siberia. Cold air becomes trapped in the lower layers of the atmosphere and is responsible for some of the piercing winters throughout some regions in Russia, China, and Mongolia.

On a broader level, the extreme temperatures highlight the current issues in the world surrounding the climate crisis. A lack of urgency in regard to taking care of our planet can put not just sport in peril, but the entire world.

In matters specific to sport, Mongolia does seem to be proactive with the issue.

The Mongolian Football Centre is a stadium in Ulaanbaatar, where both the national team and FC Ulaanbaatar play their home fixtures. In September 2022, FIFA approved upgrades to the stadium. Renovations were done to make the entire pitch eco-friendly. The field is constructed of foam, sand, and cork. It has become the first artificial turf ground in Mongolia and embodies the values of sustainability.

FIFA has watched the initiative closely as well. FIFA president Gianni Infantino launched a “Green Card for the Planet” campaign on World Environment Day, 5th June, last year. The aim is to highlight more protection for the environment and the renovations are an homage to the campaign.

Mongolian Football Federation president Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar has celebrated the stadium’s sustainable features.

“We are very pleased the newly renovated field is eco-friendly,” Amglanbaatar said. “This is a contribution to FIFA’s “Green Card for the Planet” campaign. We took part in this campaign by showing our green card.”

Artificial turf can cope with Ulaanbaatar’s harsh conditions. Playing matches and training in these temperatures often requires additional apparel. There are inherent challenges from a physical and mental standpoint too. Gloves, long sleeves, and snoods are needed for the colder elements. In addition, there has to be a heavy amount of fluid intake for hydration as there is less blood flow to the tissues.

FC Ulaanbaatar player Unur-Erdene Erdenechimeg believes the cold is the “hardest” to play in. He is content with living in the country above anywhere else.

“I love this country,” Erdenechimeg said. “If God asked me where do you want to live, I would say Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, not Dubai and Los Angeles.”

At the age of 24, Erdenechimeg has arguably played some of the most pivotal matches of his career at the Mongolian Football Centre. He has trained there in harsh conditions as well.

Photo from Unur Erdene-Erdenechimeg

Erdenechimeg spoke about the preparation ahead of that historic 3-1 victory against Tainan City and the mentality the team had entering the match.

“We know this is a big Asian competition,” Erdenechimeg said. “Our first match is at home against Tainan City and maybe people think they are going to lose. We were thinking we could win because we worked too much. We played and we won 3-1.”

There is excitement around the away reverse fixture against Tainan City on November 30, but also a slight sense of detachment. His teammate Gantogtokh Gantuyaa is hoping for a victory, but admits injuries have taken a toll on the squad’s depth.

“I think now our club situation is not so good, because too many good players are injured now we have only 14 players ready for the next game,” Gantuyaa said. “But on the field, if we play like we did in the last four games we can win and go to the next stage I hope.”

Advancing to the knockout stage would cement another historic achievement for The Red Knights.



Author

  • Jaden Dakwa

    I am a sports journalist and I have been writing about football since 2021. Sports, in general, have been a passion of mine since a young age. The Gunners in North London are definitely my favorite team, but I have overwhelming love for the sport of football as a whole. In that aspect of my life, not much has changed.

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