Background: Although the incidence of football injuries should relate to team success there is little empirical evidence.
Objective: We investigated the relationship between injury incidence and team success in Qatar first-division football clubs.
Methods: Using a prospective cohort study design, we captured exposure and injuries in Qatar male elite football for a season. Club performance was measured by total league points, ranking, goal scored, goals conceded and number of matches won, drawn or lost.
Results: Lower injury incidence was strongly correlated with team ranking position (r=0.929, p=0.003), more games won (r=0.883, p=0.008), more goals scored (r=0.893, p=0.007), greater goal difference (r=0.821, p=0.003) and total points (r=0.929, p=0.003).
Conclusions: Lower incidence rate was strongly correlated with team success. Prevention of injuries may contribute to team success.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Soccer.