The key performance indicators that discriminate winning and losing, and successful and unsuccessful teams during 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup

ABSTRACT This study investigated the efficacy of ball-possession in futsal with other key performance indicators from the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Typical key variables and hybrid variables (defensive ball-possession, offensive ball-possession and total ball-possession index) were analysed from 40 matches to distinguish between winning and losing of a single match, and to differentiate between the top (semi-finalist) and bottom (finished last in group stage) teams in the tournament. Binary logistic regression model was used to distinguish among the key performance indicators and to predict the probability of winning and success. The results revealed that teams that won matches and the top teams were found to have a significantly higher total number of attempt of shot (p < 0.01) and total ball-possession index (p < 0.01) than their counter-pairs. Although ball-possession (percentage-wise) did not demonstrate its efficacy solely on the match outcomes, hybrid ball-possession variables, particularly the total ball-possession index, succeeded in significantly discriminating (p < 0.01) between win and loss in a single futsal match as well as between successful and unsuccessful teams. The applicability of hybrid ball-possession variables to predict matches and tournament outcomes likely reinforces the importance of ball-possession strategy in futsal. Binary logistic regression model also demonstrated its reliability in outcome prediction.