In a collaborative initiative, the Concacaf Development team in partnership with FIFA gathered for the first-ever Data Forum for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. The focus was on sharing the results and findings of the statistical data gathering and analysis conducted by both federations during the most recent iteration of the Gold Cup. The event was held at the Concacaf headquarters in Miami on November 8.
The forum, which consisted of a diverse representation, brought together in-person participants from the national team staffs of the Concacaf MAs that qualified to the 2023 Gold Cup, as well as participation from all remaining 41 Concacaf MAs through the hybrid virtual modality.
Concacaf’s Chief Development Officer, Jason Roberts, expressed, “It’s been an opportunity for us to engage with members of our Member Association who are part of this competition, not only those who qualify but also those who are part of the pre-qualification phase as well.”
Throughout the day's interactions, representatives from participating Member Associations shared insights into key statistical trends that defined the previous summer's tournament. They also expounded on how statistical analysis significantly aided their team's preparations, strategic planning, and on-field performance. Moreover, Member Associations provided valuable feedback to enhance Concacaf's data-gathering and sharing processes for future tournaments, spanning both senior and youth levels.
Arron Ackerman, Senior Advisor, High Performance at FIFA, underscored the importance of statistical data, stating, "It was immensely rewarding for us to highlight our key findings from the tournament and share them with the Member Associations (MAs). The engagement and exchange of perspectives in the room were truly enriching, enabling us to continuously refine our work to better support confederations and MAs in the future. Our primary role is to provide a platform that fosters success for all, especially in Confederation and FIFA competitions, ensuring teams are well-prepared to compete at these levels. In today's game, data plays a crucial role, albeit one of many, in supporting teams on their journey towards success. Our exceptional team is dedicated to creating comprehensive datasets, developing innovative products, and bringing insightful findings to the forefront of the game. Our collaboration with CONCACAF in this instance is a testament to what can be achieved and the significant value we can deliver to MAs."
Roberts further added, "We aspire to continue organizing similar forums, fostering discussions, alignment, and the creation of a network of individuals deeply interested in leveraging data to make informed decisions in football.”
