Effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ programme in injury prevention and physical performance of youth football players: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Football is the most popular sport in the world, practiced by millions of young athletes at different competitive levels. However, the high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, especially in developing players, represents a significant challenge to these athletes’ health and performance. In this context, FIFA developed the FIFA 11+ program, a structured warm-up tool that combines strengthening, balance, plyometric, and neuromuscular control exercises, with the main goal of reducing injury risk. Preliminary studies indicate that regular implementation of the program can reduce injury rates in young athletes and may also improve physical performance parameters such as agility, strength, and balance. However, there is still no clear consensus on the program’s effectiveness across different age groups and genders, nor on the relationship between improved physical performance and injury prevention in this population. Objective: To analyze, through a systematic literature review, the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ program in preventing injuries and improving physical performance in young football players. Materials and Methods: A systematic review will be conducted with searches in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SciELO databases, using the descriptors: “FIFA 11+”, “youth soccer players”, “injury prevention”, “physical performance”, and “adolescent”, combined with Boolean operators. Randomized clinical trials and quase-experimental studies published between 2019 and August 2025, which assess the program’s effects on athletes aged 10 to 18 years, will be included. Studies involving adults, children outside the defined age range, or that did not use the complete FIFA 11+ protocol will be excluded. The selection process will follow PRISMA guidelines, and results will be synthesized narratively and through comparative tables. Results: The database search resulted in the selection of five clinical trials (2019–2025) involving youth soccer athletes (aged 10–18 years). The synthesis of the studies shows that the regular application of the FIFA 11+ program provides: 1. Injury prevention: reduction in the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, especially in the knee. 2. Improvement in physical performance: gains in agility, lower limb power, balance, isometric strength, core strength, neuromuscular control, and aerobic capacity. 3. Biomechanical enhancement: improvement in movement patterns, with a reduction in dynamic knee valgus. Conclusion: Based on a review of five high-quality studies, the FIFA 11+ program is effective for young soccer players aged 10 and older, offering three main benefits: injury prevention (especially in the knee), improvement in physical performance (agility, power, and balance), and effectiveness across a wide age range. The key mechanism is neuromuscular and strength enhancement. The main limitations are the lack of studies involving female athletes and long-term follow-up. Its adoption as a standard practice under qualified supervision is recommended, with future research focused on women, different age groups, and extended follow-up.