FIFA/talent development project: detection and training analysed on a global scale

FIFA has published a global report on the state and trends of talent development, which analyses detection, training, playing opportunities and the transition from youth to senior football, on 12/05/2021.

"The 14-month-long project, launched in Doha (QAT) in January 2020 by FIFA's Technical Development team, analysed youth football and talent development practices and structures around the world," said the body.

The 205 FIFA member associations (MAs) that took part in the project (97.1% of the 211 affiliated associations) will each receive an individual report. "The report has found that a great number of talented players go undiscovered due to a number of factors, including the lack of planning, quality of education, infrastructure & financial resources to train youngsters," explained FIFA.

"A team of 30 FIFA High Performance experts looked at youth football practices across the world, conducting a total of 1,143 interviews and 2,140 surveys with key members of the technical development hierarchy in each MA, including national team youth coaches, technical directors, and…