This study aimed to investigate the effect of air pollution on diurnal variation of performance in anaerobic tests, cardiovascular and hematological parameters, and blood gases on soccer players following the Yo–Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 (YYIRT1). In a randomized order, 11 healthy soccer players (mean age: 21.8 [range: 20–24] years; height: 178.00 [range: 1.64–1.83] cm; body mass index [BMI]: 23.57 [range: 20.45–28.03] kg.m−2) performed a YYIRT1 at two different times of day (TOD) (08:00 h and 18:00 h) in two areas (i.e. polluted (PA) and non-polluted (NPA)) with a recovery period of ≥ 72 h in between, to determine the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). In each test session: resting oral temperature is measured, anaerobic performances (pre- and post-YYIRT1) were performed, cardiovascular parameters and blood samples were collected at: rest, 3 min and 60 min after the YYIRT1, to assess blood gases and hematological parameters. Our results showed that, agility performance, VO2max, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), pH, and bicarbonate levels (HCO3−) decrease significantly (p < 0.001) following the YYIRT1 in PA compared to NPA. Likewise, the heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), platelets (PLT), white blood cells (WBC), neutrophiles (NEUT), lymphocytes (LYM), and partial pressure of CO2 levels (PvCO2) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in PA. This effect was slightly accentuated at 18:00 h for some parameters (i.e. Agility, HCO3−, HR, PvCO2, RBC, SBP). However, performances of sprint and Sargent jump test (SJT), oral temperature, rate of perceived exertion scales (RPE), partial pressure of O2 (PvO2), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and monocytes (MON) were not affected by pollution (p > 0.05). In conclusion, pollution seems to be critical for health stability and performance in response to YYIRT1 especially in the evening and the winter season. Therefore, coaches and athletes should draw attention to the potential importance of land use planning in their training sessions and competitions in the morning in polluted area to minimize the risk of pollution exposure.
