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The Effects of Adherence to the FIFA 11+ Program on Injury Risk in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and
Mostafa Zarei1, Mehdi Aslani1, Zohreh Yaghoubitajani1
1Department of Sport Rehabilitation and Health, Faculty of Sport Science and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 15, 2026
Summary
Adhering to the FIFA 11+ program significantly reduces injury risk in soccer players. This systematic review highlights the program
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Injury Prevention
- Soccer Performance
Background:
- The FIFA 11+ program was developed for soccer due to high injury rates.
- Uncertainty exists regarding the overall effect of the FIFA 11+ program on injury rates, influenced by player adherence variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of adherence to the FIFA 11+ program on injury risk among soccer players.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials (2008 onwards) involving 2025 participants.
- Searched databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus) following PRISMA guidelines.
- Utilized a random effects model to calculate risk ratios and assess heterogeneity (I² statistic).
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in injury risk observed for soccer players adhering to the FIFA 11+ program (RR, 0.12-0.22; P = .001).
- Substantial heterogeneity (I² = 88.98%) indicated significant variability across study outcomes.
- Meta-regression analysis did not identify significant predictors of effect size, suggesting unmeasured factors influence effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to the FIFA 11+ program is effective in reducing soccer-related injuries.
- Further research is needed to enhance program implementation and adherence, considering diverse player and team characteristics.
