The identification and development of young football talent are essential for building a competitive and sustainable football program at both regional and national levels. In Vietnam, particularly in An Giang province, there is a growing emphasis on early talent detection and scientifically grounded training methods for youth football. This study aims to select the most appropriate fitness tests for evaluating physical capacities relevant to football performance in 13-year-old talented male players.

A sample of 60 male football players aged 13, identified as talented by local football academies and school sports programs, participated in the study. A comprehensive review of existing literature and expert consultation was conducted to identify a set of fitness tests relevant to football-specific physical attributes such as speed, agility, endurance, strength, and coordination. The selected tests included the 30-meter sprint, Illinois agility test, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, standing long jump, and sit-up test.

Each test was administered under standardized conditions, and the results were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and factor analysis to determine the relevance and discriminatory power of each test. The findings revealed that the 30-meter sprint and agility tests were the most significant indicators of football performance at this age level, while endurance and explosive strength also played a supporting role.