‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 2: Contextualising the Physical Demands of Teams in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Abstract

This study aimed to contextualise and benchmark the physical demands of teams in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. With FIFA’s official approval, all sixty-four games were analysed during the competition ( n = 32 teams) using a multi-camera computerised tracking system. On average, teams during Qatar 2022 covered around 108.1±3.6 km in total, with 9.0±0.9 and 2.3±0.3 km covered at the higher intensities (≥20.0 and ≥25.0 km· h -1 ), respectively. Compared to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, national teams in Qatar 2022 covered only 3% more total distance but 16–19% more distance at the higher intensities ( P 0.05; ES: 0.0–0.1). Correlations between the number of high intensity runs and various phase of play events across all teams were strongest for defensive transitions and recoveries, in addition to progressions up the pitch and into the final third ( r = 0.63–0.75; P < 0.01). The present findings provide valuable context into the contemporary team demands of international football. This information could be useful for practitioners to benchmark team performances and to potentially understand the myriad of factors impacting physical performances.

Keywords

• match aanalysis
• high-intensity
• international football
• playing position
• soccer