RismadarVoice Reporters
May 11, 2026
FIFA has announced an 11-member Technical Study Group (TSG) tasked with analysing matches at the 2026 World Cup and determining winners of major individual awards during the tournament.
The panel was unveiled on Monday during a virtual media briefing ahead of the competition, which is set to kick off next month at the historic Estadio Azteca.
According to FIFA, the newly constituted group will be responsible for providing technical analysis of matches and selecting winners of prestigious awards such as the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player.
The 11-member team brings together former international players, coaches, and football experts from different regions of the world.
The group will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope, and Brazil’s World Cup-winning midfielder Gilberto Silva.
Others on the panel are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow, and Aron Winter.
FIFA said the Technical Study Group will play a key role in documenting tactical trends and performance standards throughout the tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in history and a total of 104 matches.
A FIFA spokesperson described the group as central to understanding the evolution of the game at the highest level.
“The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football. By combining expert insight with advanced data analysis, this team will provide the official technical record of how the game is played at the 2026 World Cup,” the spokesperson said.
