FIFA Unveils App to Enable FIFA World Cup 2022 Players Access Data Insights into their Performance

FIFA has launched the FIFA Player App which will allow players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar to get insights into their on-field performance.

One of the goals of FIFA’s Vision 2020-2023 is to harness technology to best serve football, players and the game – and that includes the way FIFA processes the personal data of players.

The app was created on the strength of input from professional players, in collaboration with FIFPRO, the global representative of professional footballers. The FIFA Player App will be used for the first time at a FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The survey and interviews conducted show that players are very interested in their performance data and want to have easy access to this information.

The FIFA Player App will provide the opportunity for each player to access their individual player-performance data shortly after each match. The data collected includes the following:

• Enhanced football data metrics – calculated from enhanced event data, captured by a team of highly trained FIFA football performance analysts, combined with tracking data. Examples include whether a player made an offer or movement to receive, whether their distribution action broke opposition lines, and the pressure they applied to an opponent in possession of the ball. All metrics are captured against the FIFA Football Language definitions.

• Physical performance metrics – collected through a highly accurate in-stadium tracking system consisting of multiple cameras located around the pitch for maximum player coverage. Metrics include distance covered at various speed thresholds, number of actions above 25km/h, and maximum speed, all displayed on positional heat maps.

• Enhanced football intelligence metrics – created by the FIFA Football Performance Analysis & Insights team through the development of a series of algorithms and models that operate live to integrate event and tracking data. The new metrics provide innovative and exciting ways to analyse the game, including the phase of play, line-breaking events, receiving locations, and pressure being applied to the player in possession of the ball.

This data is then synchronised with match footage to enable players to watch all key moments of their own performance in detail, using different camera angles. Additionally, multiple action photographs taken during key moments of each FIFA World Cup match will be made available to each individual player.

Also, Players will be able to save or share the photos on social media, together with their favourite match statistics, directly from the app.

Players will be able to access the FIFA Player App when they arrive in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA Player App was successfully trialled with players from different teams at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021and was presented to the FIFA World Cup participating teams during the recent Team Workshop in Doha.

Johannes Holzmüller, FIFA Director of Football Technology & Innovation, said: “For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, not only the participating teams but also all players will have the opportunity to get direct access to their own performance data and the related video clips after each match. This player-centric development is based on direct feedback from the players and is another great example of how FIFA is using technology to the best of its potential by improving the football experience for the key actors on the pitch.”

Simon Colosimo, FIFPRO Deputy General Secretary, said: “Players have clearly articulated to us that they want more access and benefit from the collection of their data. In combination with the Charter of Player Data Rights announced earlier this week, the FIFA Player App is a positive outcome that will activate personal data rights and provide a new resource for players at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. We expect the joint work between FIFA and FIFPRO on player data to continue unlocking benefits for men and women players across a wide range of areas, including health and performance, in-game technology and matchday experience.”