Long-term physical performance trends across the five confederations: Evidence from the 19th to 22nd FIFA World Cup editions (2010–2022)

Xiao Yang and Liangzhu Feng

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Physical performance demands in elite international football have evolved substantially in recent decades, yet longitudinal comparisons across FIFA confederations remain limited. Objective: This study examined long-term changes in physical performance demands among outfield players from five confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, and AFC) using tracking data from 225 matches at the 2010–2022 FIFA World Cups. Methods: Generalised mixed linear models were used to estimate changes in total distance, top speed, sprint (>25 km·h ⁻ ¹), low-intensity running distance (

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0354205

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0354205

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