Set‑Piece Trends Ahead of the 2026 World Cup
As football’s governing body prepares for the first 48‑team World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) has weighed in on how evolving tactics might shape the tournament. While club sides such as Arsenal have turned dead‑ball situations into a hallmark of their play, the TSG suggests that limited preparation time for national squads will keep set pieces from becoming the defining feature of the 2026 edition.
Arsenal’s Corner Record and the “Set‑Piece Kings” Label
Premier League leaders Arsenal earned the nickname “set‑piece kings” after breaking the league record for most corners in a single season. According to the Premier League’s official statistics, Arsenal collected 119 corners during the 2023‑24 campaign, surpassing the previous high of 115 set by Manchester City in 2021‑22.
Gilberto Silva, the 2002 World Cup‑winning Brazil midfielder and former Arsenal player, noted the shift:
“We’ve seen that this season, especially in the Premier League with Arsenal. In recent years corners and long balls haven’t been used as much as they were in my time when they were more common. In recent years the game has evolved, with teams built from the goalkeeper.”
Silva expressed curiosity about how other international sides will adapt the Arsenal model, but cautioned that the short turnaround between club commitments and World Cup preparation may limit the impact.
Why International Teams May Rely Less on Dead‑Ball Tactics
The TSG’s analysis highlights a practical constraint: national teams typically have only a few weeks of collective training before a major tournament. This window makes it difficult to instil the intricate set‑piece routines that thrive in club environments where players work together week‑in, week‑out.
Tom Gardner, head of Football Performance Insights at FIFA, echoed this view during a media roundtable a month before the expanded tournament:
“I expect close games with a lot of practical aspects and teams trying to use transitions to get through. Of course it can be a weapon and teams will use it, but not as a main weapon.”
The group anticipates that coaches will prioritize quick transitions, high‑press strategies, and flexible formations that can be implemented with limited tactical drilling.
Insights from the Club World Cup Heat Test
The 2025 Club World Cup, hosted in the United States, served as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup. Gardner pointed out that the tournament revealed a comparable level of intensity to the 2022 World Cup in key matches, but also underscored the influence of extreme heat on player performance.
“In general, the Club World Cup showed a very similar level of intensity in games to the 2022 World Cup when we looked at some of the key games… So I’m sure the heat can be a factor in how teams manage this. But we don’t expect very similar results on a physical level to 2022, as we did in the 2025 Club World Cup.”
These findings reinforce the TSG’s belief that environmental factors, rather than set‑piece mastery, could play a more decisive role in shaping match outcomes next summer.
The Role of FIFA’s Technical Study Group
Led by FIFA’s Head of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, the TSG brings together former internationals and analysts to study evolving trends. Current members include Gilberto Silva, Jürgen Klinsmann, and Pablo Zabaleta, supported by a dedicated team of data specialists.
The group’s mandate is to provide objective, evidence‑based insights that help FIFA, confederations, and national associations understand the tactical, physical, and technical dimensions of the game. By publishing analyses such as the one discussed here, the TSG aims to promote transparency and inform best practices across the football ecosystem.
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, the balance between innovative set‑piece exploitation and the realities of international preparation will remain a focal point for coaches, analysts, and fans alike.
