The Future of Football Data Is Here: How Opta Vision Is Redefining Football Analysis With New 2025/26 Metrics

Inside the Session

Opta’s Data Analyst and football expert, Jonny Whitmore, kicked off the session by introducing the ever-growing suite of Opta Vision metrics and their real-world applications for teams, broadcasters and journalists alike.

The metrics presented to the industry professionals in attendance include:

• Playing Styles (New for 2025): Breaks down each possession into five rule-based phases, enabling detailed comparisons of team approaches in possession. 

• Off-Ball Runs (New for 2025): Tracks every attacking and defensive run made off the ball, game by game, player by player. 

• Pressure Intensity: Captures a team or player’s pressing behaviour and defensive work to show how and where possession is regained. 

• Line-Breaking Passes: Identifies players who regularly break defensive lines with their passing, highlighting impact moments and zones. 

• Shape Analysis: Visualises a team’s true shape in and out of possession throughout a match, including individual positioning. 

• Pass Predictions: Assesses the impact of every pass, offering a quantifiable look at passing ability and decision-making. 

Following Jonny’s deep dive, Niall Hendry, Product Director, demonstrated how these metrics come to life in Opta Graphics, Opta Live and Opta Search – plus a preview into how the new insights could be integrated into AR and telestration platforms, opening the door to more dynamic storytelling and in-depth analysis.

The workshop wrapped up with an open Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to exchange ideas, ask questions and explore the tools first-hand. Jens Melvang, Senior Product Manager for Opta Vision, was also on hand to run live demos and highlight the power of the platform.