FIFA has unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group (TSG) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with former Ghana head coach Otto Addo named as the only African representative on the elite panel.
The governing body announced the group during a virtual media briefing on Monday ahead of the expanded tournament, which will begin next month at Estadio Azteca.
The Technical Study Group will analyze all 104 matches of the competition and provide detailed reports on tactical developments, technical trends and the evolving physical demands of the modern game.
The panel will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes several high-profile former players and coaches from across the world.
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Among them are former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jurgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva.
Also included in the group are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter.
FIFA confirmed that the Technical Study Group will also be responsible for selecting the winners of the tournament’s major individual honors, including the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, with a record 104 matches scheduled across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football,” a FIFA spokesperson said during the briefing.
“By blending expert observation with cutting edge data, this team will provide the official record of how football is played at the highest level in 2026.”
Addo’s appointment is being viewed as another major recognition of African coaching expertise on the global stage.
The former Black Stars coach earned praise during his time with Ghana national football team and through his coaching work in European football, building a reputation as a tactically progressive and analytical football mind.
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His role within the Technical Study Group will see him contribute to FIFA’s long-term objectives surrounding coaching education, player development and the study of tactical innovation at elite level football.
