The association of team surface area and tactical formation on match running performance in elite soccer

The present study examined associations between Team Surface Area (TSA), tactical formations, and match running performance (MRP) during defensive subphases (high, mid, and low-blocks) and possession build-up in elite football. Matches from 31 teams in the 2022 FIFA World Cup were analyzed across four formations (3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and 4-2-3-1). MRP variables included total distance covered (m), Zone 4 distance (20–25 km·h –1 ; m), Zone 5 distance (>25 km·h –1 ; m), HSR actions in Zone 4, sprint actions in Zone 5, and top speed (km·h –1 ). Mixed-effects models assessed main and interaction effects of TSA and formation type on MRP. TSA alone showed no significant effect on MRP variables after correction for multiple comparisons. Zone 4 distance showed significant TSA × formation interactions in low-block and mid-block phases (both BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.037), with 3-4-3 showing more positive associations with increasing TSA than 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. HSR actions showed a significant TSA × formation interaction in the low-block (BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.002), with increasing TSA associated with greater HSR demands in 3-4-3 but lower HSR demands in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Larger possession build-up areas were associated with increased HSR actions irrespective of formation (BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.002). Total distance covered, Zone 5 distance, sprint actions, and top speed were not significantly affected after correction for multiple comparisons. These findings indicate that MRP in elite football is better explained by the interaction between tactical structure and spatial organization than by TSA or formation alone. MRP should therefore be interpreted within a phase-specific tactical context.