Sex Differences in Passing Performance in Elite International Football: A Multidimensional Analysis of Pass Length and Pitch Zone in Fifa World Cups

Introduction. This study examined sex differences in passing performance using match data from the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. A total of 128 team observations per tournament were analyzed using StatsBomb event data.

Material and Methods. Passing performance was assessed using pass frequency, pass completion rate, mean pass distance, pass length categories (short, medium, and long), and pitch zones (defensive, middle, and attacking thirds).

Results. Men showed significantly higher values for number of passes, pass completion rate, and mean pass distance than women. Women exhibited a higher proportion of short passes and a lower proportion of medium passes, whereas no clear difference was observed in long-pass proportion. Although pass distribution across pitch zones was similar between sexes, women attempted fewer passes in the defensive and middle thirds. Significant interactions between sex, pass length, and pitch zone were observed for all variables (all p < 0.05), indicating that sex differences depended on tactical context.

Conclusions. These findings suggest that sex differences in football passing performance are context-dependent rather than uniform. Integrating pass length and spatial context provides a more comprehensive understanding of performance differences between men’s and women’s football and may inform coaching and performance analysis in elite football.