No 'winning formula:' FIFA releases World Cup technical report
FIFA’s technical report on the 2026 World Cup has highlighted an increased number of tactical strategies at the tournament but concluded there was not necessarily a “winning formula”. The world governing body’s Technical Study Group (TSG) and Football Performance Insights Department (FPI) published a 500-page report on Friday, offering “unprecedented insights into how the best national teams and…
FIFA has unveiled a comprehensive technical report on the 2026 World Cup, detailing the diverse tactical strategies employed by the world's top teams. The 500-page document, compiled by FIFA's Technical Study Group and Football Performance Insights Department, reveals 11 key trends, though it refrains from offering a singular "winning formula."
Instead, the report emphasizes the variety of tactical approaches adopted by teams, such as playing with a back three, rotating wide players, altering the point of attack, and implementing high press and defensive blocks. FPI lead Tom Gardner notes that there is no single path to success, with teams opting for aggressive high presses, compact low blocks, or rapid transitions.
The report highlights Cabo Verde's success through compact defending, collective organization, and active goalkeeper involvement. FIFA's chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, emphasizes that football is constantly evolving, with new ideas emerging and existing principles being adapted, potentially influencing the game long after a tournament concludes.
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