In team sports, the ability to control key areas of the pitch and create advantageous spatial arrangements is crucial to success. However, the variety of methodological approaches to analysing space in football has resulted in inconsistent terminologies and a lack of transparency in analysis, limiting a unified understanding of space management. This scoping review aimed to examine how 'space' is conceptualised, constructed and operationalised in competitive football, resulting in a taxonomy of analytical approaches and outcomes. The review was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/6fxeb) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eligible studies were identified through searches of PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were English language, football-related, observational, modelling or experimental design, 11 vs. 11 adult participants, and analysis of space utilisation by individuals, groups, or teams. In total, N = 46 full-text articles on space in elite football using positional data were included. Study characteristics, space metrics, visualisation methods and modelling techniques were extracted and synthesised narratively. The review revealed conceptual and methodological heterogeneity, as similar terms were used to describe distinct constructs, identical spatial values emerged from different team formations, and the applied models showed limited validation. Further research is required to clarify the relevance and enhance the practical applicability of the spatial variables that best represent space in football and the contexts in which they are most applicable.
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