With exactly one month to go before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football’s world governing body has officially named the 11-member Technical Study Group (TSG).

This elite panel is tasked with providing deep tactical analysis and selecting the tournament’s prestigious individual award winners. Under the overarching guidance of FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, the group blends legendary playing experience with modern coaching expertise to evaluate the expanded 48-team tournament.

The group is led by FIFA Senior Football Expert and former Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler, who will oversee a diverse team of international football icons.

The roster features storied World Cup winners including Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann and Brazil’s Gilberto Silva, alongside two-time Women’s World Cup champion Tobin Heath from the USA. The panel also benefits from the defensive insights of Argentina’s Pablo Zabaleta and the tactical acumen of current Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.

Completing this global lineup of experts are Otto Addo, the former head coach of Ghana’s Black Stars, and Danish legend Jon Dahl Tomasson. They are joined by Jayne Ludlow, the former Wales women’s national coach, Costa Rican icon Paulo Wanchope, and Aron Winter, a winner of the 1988 European Championship with the Netherlands.

Together, these 11 members will monitor all 104 matches across the USA, Canada, and Mexico to identify emerging trends and global shifts in the game’s development.

Operating from dedicated performance suites in Miami and Dallas, the TSG will utilize “Enhanced Football Intelligence” metrics and thousands of data points per match to create the official tactical record of the tournament. Beyond their analytical duties, the panel carries the significant responsibility of deciding the tournament’s top honors.

They are the sole body responsible for crowning the winners of the Golden Ball for the best player, the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper, and the Best Young Player award.

“The Technical Study Group captures the heartbeat of global football,” a FIFA spokesperson noted during the unveiling, emphasizing that the blend of expert observation and cutting-edge data will provide a definitive record of the sport. The World Cup is set to begin on June 11, 2026, with the opening match held at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.