FIFA has unveiled the members of its Technical Study Group (TSG) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a panel that will deliver cutting-edge analysis of every match in the tournament to enhance global understanding of football.
Overseen by Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, the TSG will be led by Pascal Zuberbühler, FIFA’s Senior Football Specialist, and Tom Gardner, Head of FIFA’s Football Performance Insights (FPI) unit. The group includes 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).
These experts will be supported by a team of football analysts, engineers, data scientists, and performance analysts working in Miami, Dallas, and remotely from Manchester, UK. During the tournament, FIFA will share the most advanced performance metrics in World Cup history with broadcasters, online audiences, participating teams, and players. Developed by the FPI team, this enhanced football intelligence service will provide fascinating new insights—presented through augmented reality and traditional graphics—to enrich coverage and analysis of all 104 matches.
“The Technical Study Group helps identify trends in the game, prepares future generations to develop football, and contributes to making the sport more exciting by highlighting the qualities players will need in the future,” said Wenger. “With an unprecedented level of high-quality data, the TSG will describe, analyze, and interpret what happens on the pitch in a way that inspires both technical experts and football fans. We’re not just collecting more data than ever; we’re finding the optimal balance between specialist knowledge and data. At the same time, we want to share our technical observations in real time during the tournament.”
The TSG will analyze each match either from a unique tactical position in the stadium or from its performance room in Miami, with access to six video angles and thousands of live data points. Members will also select the winners of the tournament awards.
All findings from the TSG will be made available on the FIFA Training Centre, an innovative platform for players and coaches worldwide. For the first time at a World Cup, fans can also access TSG insights in real time via the FIFA Training Centre’s social media accounts and YouTube channel.
The TSG members bring diverse experience:
– Otto Addo: 15 caps for Ghana as a player and twice head coach of Ghana (Feb–Dec 2022 and Mar 2024–Mar 2026).
– Tobin Heath: Won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019 with the USA, plus Olympic gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
– Jürgen Klinsmann: Won the 1990 World Cup as a player with West Germany, and later coached the German national team and the USA.
– Jayne Ludlow: Former Wales women’s national team player and head coach of the Wales women’s team.
– Michael O’Neill: Current Northern Ireland men’s national team head coach, led them to UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage.
– Gilberto Silva: World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, and former Arsenal midfielder.
– Jon Dahl Tomasson: UEFA Euro 1992 winner with Denmark as player, later coached Malmö FF and Blackburn Rovers.
– Paulo Wanchope: Costa Rica’s all-time leading scorer, former player in the Premier League and La Liga.
– Aron Winter: Dutch international, winner of Euro 1988, and former Ajax and Inter Milan player.
– Pablo Zabaleta: Argentine defender, 2014 World Cup runner-up, and former Manchester City star.