FIFA has introduced its Technical Study Group (TSG) for the 2026 World Cup, a panel tasked with analyzing every match of the tournament to deepen global understanding of football.
Under the leadership of Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, the TSG comprises Otto Addo (Ghana), Tobin Heath (USA), Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany), Jayne Ludlow (Wales), Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), Gilberto Silva (Brazil), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Denmark), Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica), Aron Winter (Netherlands), and Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina). The group is chaired by Pascal Zuberbühler, FIFA’s Senior Football Expert, and Tom Gardner, Head of Football Performance Analysis (FPI), backed by a team of football analysts, data engineers, and performance specialists based in Miami, Dallas, and Manchester (UK).
Throughout the competition, FIFA will share state-of-the-art performance metrics and data with global audiences via television and online platforms, as well as with participating teams and players. The analysis, using augmented reality and traditional graphics, will cover matches both during and after play.
“The Technical Study Group helps identify trends in the game, prepares future generations for football’s evolution, and makes the sport more engaging by spotlighting the skills players will need in the future,” Wenger said.
The TSG will assess all 104 matches of this year’s FIFA World Cup from a tactical position in the stadium or from their performance analysis hub in Miami. They will have access to six camera angles and thousands of live data points per match. TSG members will also select tournament award winners.
“We’ll see joyful, high-pressing teams, and others that aim to hold back and defend. With so many matches in this World Cup, there will be a mix of styles,” said Gilberto Silva when asked if the tournament would lean more toward PSG’s approach or Arsenal’s
