Revolutionizing Youth Football: Red Bull Wings Cup Meets KINEXON Sports
What if youth football wasn’t just about the score — but about the players who shape the game? That’s the bold vision behind Wings Cup 2025, hosted by RB Leipzig, and why KINEXON Sports proudly partnered with this first-of-its-kind event. From April 22 – 24, 2025, the tournament became the world’s first global youth football competition to feature live player and ball tracking — marking a new era in data-driven player development.
Reimagining Youth Football: From Team Focus to Individual Impact
The Wings Cup 2025 flipped the traditional tournament model on its head. Instead of focusing on team results, the spotlight shifted to individual performance — powered by real-time tracking technology and sport science insights.
By capturing and analyzing physical, technical, and tactical data live, the tournament rewarded young talents not just for winning, but for how they played: their decisions, movements, and influence on the pitch.
Tournament Format: A Data-Driven Playground for Young Talent
The Wings Cup featured:
- 6 elite academies: RB Leipzig, RB New York, PSV Eindhoven, Red Bull Salzburg, RB Bragantino & Southampton FC
- 5v5 fast-paced matches, 8 minutes each with rolling substitutions
- Individual performance scoring based on live-tracked data
- Real-time feedback for coaches, players, and even spectators
This format enabled an unprecedented level of player evaluation — from work rate and decision-making to technical execution — all happening live.
The Tech That Powered It: KINEXON’s Live Player & Ball Tracking
Behind the scenes was KINEXON’s Connected Ball Technology and UWB Player Tracking System — the same cutting-edge solution trusted by over 500 professional football clubs worldwide.
What Was Tracked:
- External Load Metrics: Distance covered, HMPD, sprints, accelerations, decelerations
- Technical Data: Passes, dribbling, shot power
- Ball Data: Velocity, touches, trajectories, touch points
By combining GPS, IMU, and UWB data through our real-time engine, we delivered:
- Instant feedback for in-game and post-match coaching
- Cloud-based analysis for performance benchmarking and long-term development
- Seamless integration with existing club performance systems
And thanks to our ultra-low latency infrastructure, data was displayed live on pitchside screens and immediately accessible for post-match review.
More Than Numbers: A Shared Mission to Develop Tomorrow’s Stars
At KINEXON Sports, our mission is clear: Innovate the Game by transforming live data into actionable insights. Through our partnership with Red Bull’s global football network, we’ve helped create a standardized, science-backed performance ecosystem — now extending to the youth level.
This tournament was a direct reflection of that mission: empowering young athletes with data, visibility, and the tools to grow.
Beyond the Pitch: The Youth Football Congress
A standout moment at Wings Cup 2025 was the Youth Football Congress, held on April 23, 2025. Our Managing Director & Co-Founder, Maximilian Schmidt, delivered a keynote: “Ball Tracking Technology – How it Works. How it Changes Football.”
The session explored how sport technology is reshaping modern football — from match analysis and scouting to player development and tactical strategy.
The Future of Football Is Already in Motion
Wings Cup 2025 wasn’t just a youth tournament — it was a live football innovation lab. A space where technology, talent, and tactical thinking converged. Coaches, scouts, analysts, and players all witnessed firsthand how live performance data is unlocking a new standard for training, evaluation, and growth.
At KINEXON Sports, we’re not just tracking the game — we’re shaping the future of football.
Want to learn more or see these tools in action?
Reach out to your KINEXON Sports contact or drop us a message – we’d love to talk to you!
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