Comparative Analysis of U17, U20, and Senior Football Team Performances in the FIFA World Cup: From Youth to Senior...

This study aimed to investigate differences in match physical and technical/tactical performance of teams across different competitive levels in international soccer: FIFA Men's World Cup Qatar 2022 (MWC), FIFA U20 World Cup Argentina 2023 (U20WC), and FIFA U17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 (U17WC).

From a total of 168 games, 138 games were analyzed (N = 276 game observations) using an optical tracking system.

On average, the U17WC teams exhibited reduced total running (3% less), high-intensity running (14%-16% less), and sprinting (18%-26% less) distance than the MWC and U20WC teams (P ≤ .0023; effect size [ES]: 0.8-1.5). The MWC teams displayed 4% to 5% higher accuracy in passing and executing line breaks (P ≤ .0188; ES: 0.6-0.7), along with increased offers to receive the ball (53%-118% more) and movements to receive the ball (44%-101% more), and received the ball (61%-137%) more often than the U20WC and U17WC teams (P < .001; ES: 1.1-2.1). Moreover, notable decreases in defensive pressure (-18% to -32%) and forced turnovers (-26% to -32%) were observed in the U17WC than other competitions (P ≤ .0001; ES: 0.8-2.2). Greater variability was observed among the U17WC teams in several metrics, including high-intensity/sprinting distances, attempts at goal, and receptions in the final third.

These findings demonstrate that as the competitive level increases, so do the physical demands, advanced technical skills, and tactical fluidity/adaptability. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting match performance of younger age groups, as higher variability was evident in both physical and technical/tactical performance in matches.