Four national team tactics built from footballing culture and history — Canada's Maplepressing 4-4-2, Bosnia's direct aerial 4-4-2, Qatar's possession 4-3-3 and Switzerland's fluid 3-4-2-1.
Welcome to the second part of FM Blog's twelve-part series, 'Football Heritage — FM Blog's Road to the World Cup'. In this article, I will be going through all four nations in Group B, their respective World Cup histories, their respective football cultures, and their respective, current tactics. I hope you enjoy!
Canada
Canada arrives into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as first-time hosts, alongside Mexico and USA, and will compete in their third World Cup in history — and their second in a row, marking a relatively successful few years for the country. On both other occasions of reaching the World Cup, they failed to bypass the Group Stage — this year, they will be aiming to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history!
In Canada, football/soccer is a secondary sport, with the vast majority of Canadian people watching and following ice hockey instead. As such, a distinct 'footballing culture', of which would be synonymous with Canada as a nation, hasn't yet developed, nor emerged. However, thanks to the national team's recent successes drawing more Canadian eyes to the sport, a collective love and passion for the game is being forged. Canada is, to some extent, known for being one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with many different people of many different backgrounds, heritages, and cultures residing within the nation. As such, a blended, multicultural football culture is starting to appear, with the nation (and its football, of course!) taking inspiration from the 'cultural mosaic' around them. It's rather beautiful and is rather emblematic of what the World Cup, itself, represents for many around the world.
When football/soccer was first played in Canada, 'Canadian Rules' for football were formed — these rules allowed for a more physical game than in Britain, with players permitted to trip and hack at each other's legs. Their greatest success in football, as a nation, was arguably when they won the 2000 Gold Cup. Their Gold Cup-winning team played a strong, counter-attacking game, with an emphasis on sitting deeper, utilising their physical advantages, winning the ball back, and quickly attacking with pace and verticality.
Jesse Marsch's side are very resonant of the 'Red Bull style of play', largely thanks to the manager's previous involvement in the regime. Marsch tends to set his side up in an aggressive, high-pressing 4-4-2 shape, with the team focusing on the art of 'gegenpressing'. Upon losing the ball, Marsch's side will tenaciously haggle the opposition into relinquishing possession, before rapidly and dynamically attacking forwards themselves — tending to attack through the centre, interestingly — after regaining the ball. This emphasis on pressing high — which they aren't afraid to do against even the best, as they showed in previous games against world champions, Argentina — has since been coined 'Maplepressing', a nod to the nation's famous affinity with the maple leaf.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've largely recreated what we've seen thus far from Jesse Marsch's Canada side: heavy-metal, fast-paced, action-packed football. Players are instructed to stay as narrow as possible to account for our central-based, direct counter-attacks. Players are also instructed to dribble more to help drive our counter-attacks forward. Finally, I want the team to finish attacking moves just as swiftly as they enter them, hence the 'Hit Early Crosses' instruction is applied.
Out of Possession
Here, again, I've largely recreated what we've seen from Canada under Jesse Marsch so far: I've tried to replicate the 'Maplepressing' that I previously alluded to, whilst adding a much higher defensive line as the team possesses rapid centre-backs like Bombito. For a deeper look at how gegenpressing and counter-press systems combine in FM26, our FM26 pressing principles guide is an excellent companion read.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Full-Back | Full-Back
The right-back, in Marsch's Canada system thus far, is the more reserved of the two full-backs, and will typically sit deeper and narrower to allow Buchanan ahead of him to hug the touchline.
(DCR & DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
All outfielders are given the 'Tackle Harder' instruction to symbolise the 'Canadian Rules' I stated earlier in the piece.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
This role represents Alphonso Davies' role in this system, moving higher and wider whilst possessing the initiative to carry the ball forward and situationally reach the byline.
(DMCR) Box-To-Box Midfielder | Central Midfielder
Both midfielders, in this system, are typical box-to-box midfielders, drifting deep to supplement our deep build-up before moving higher. The right-sided midfielder, however, tends to stay a bit deeper. Both midfielders will happily roam from their positions.
(DMCL) Box-To-Box Midfielder | Central Midfielder
(AMR) Winger | Wide Midfielder
Tajon Buchanan will usually hold the width on the right side. From here, he'll regularly make penetrative runs in-behind the opposition's defence before, upon receiving the ball, taking on his man.
(AML) Winger | Wide Midfielder
On the left, however, the left winger's role is slightly less defined, as he can situationally hold width or, just as easily, sit narrower — he tends to do the latter more often.
Deep-Lying Forward | Centre Forward
In this system, Jonathan David will typically drop off the frontline into the space between the lines to receive the ball and reliably facilitate play. Both strikers will lead the team's high-press.
Poacher | Centre Forward
David's strike partner tends to be more of a goalscorer, no matter who plays alongside him.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Third-Place
Bosnia & Herzegovina
The 2026 World Cup will be the second-ever World Cup campaign Bosnia & Herzegovina have competed in, following in the footsteps of the legendary Miralem Pjanić & co. in 2014. On that occasion, Bosnia & Herzegovina failed to make it out of the group-stages, despite giving it their best effort by defeating Iran and just narrowly being beaten by Lionel Messi's Argentina — of whom ended up reaching the Final of the competition that summer. This year, they will be looking to fly the flag on the global stage with the same determination and fight as twelve years' prior... all with the aim of progressing beyond the group stages and even further.
The 2014 Bosnia & Herzegovina side were a very interesting outfit, playing a high-risk brand of attacking football. Thanks to the abundance of talent in central regions, pioneered by the likes of Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, the side were often set up in a (sort of) 4-4-2 diamond shape, with an emphasis on maximising their greatest talent and play creative, attractive football.
Sergej Babarez currently sets his side up in a very direct 4-4-2 formation, looking to utilise the side's strong aerial ability across the pitch — this also translates into the side's emphasis on set-pieces and whipping in crosses often, as it gives their aerially dominant players more of an opportunity to do what they do best. Babarez' side are also particularly proficient at counter-attacking. With the ball at their feet, they will rarely ever try and build-up play — instead, they will opt to go long more often, aiming to win the ball through aerial duels and/or second balls.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've largely tried to replicate what Babarez' Bosnia & Herzegovina side does in real life, with a slight sprinkling of parts of their 2014 side and their tactics (Attacking mentality). I added the 'Narrower' instruction to optimise conditions for the team's long-ball approach, giving the midfielders and other attackers less space needed to cover when trying to win second balls. Largely, I tried to play into the idea of being a more direct outfit.
Out of Possession
When his side doesn't have the ball, Babarez sets his team up in a compact, 4-4-2 mid/low-block — they rarely ever step up to press, largely sitting off opponents to preserve their 4-4-2 structure. However, if they do decide to press high, they will do in a man-to-man fashion.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper
No additional instructions.
Advanced Wing-Back | Full-Back
Amar Dedic is certainly one to watch this summer. For Benfica, he has impressed many, showcasing a fantastic attacking ability and drive to carry the ball forward — this has translated to the national team, as he's instructed to move much higher and wider on the right, constantly providing overlapping runs.
(DCR & DCL) Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Full-Back | Full-Back
In this system, under Babarez, when the right-back moves much higher and wider, the left-back will usually stay deeper and will move narrower slightly to create a wide, 'back-three' base for the team. I added 'Make More Runs' to add a little more tactical flexibility to the side, along with adding the option of an underlapping/overlapping run for the winger ahead of him.
Defensive Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
No additional instructions.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
This player tends to arrive late into the penalty area as a (potentially) fifth, late crossing target.
No additional instructions.
(MR) Winger | Wide Midfielder
Both wingers, in this system, will tend to take on their man before cutting inside and having a shot from distance — this is a tactical consistency with this side, at this point. However, their respective positionings do vary. On the right, the right-winger will often tuck inside to give Amar Dedic more space to overlap into out wide.
(ML) Winger | Wide Midfielder
Conversely, on the left side, the left-winger will more likely hold the width. Kerim Alajbegovic is another extremely talented Bosnian player, excelling this season for RB Salzburg and earning a summer move, already, to Bayer Leverkusen. Another exciting prospect to enjoy watching this summer!
Target Forward | Centre Forward
Demirovic plays a very specific 'piano-carrier' role for Bosnia & Herzegovina when Edin Dzeko starts alongside him; this role largely consists of being the side's target man and long-ball target, wherefrom, upon receiving the ball, he will facilitate play and make selfless runs into the channels to open up more space for Dzeko to operate in/attack. Additionally, he'll tend to do extra hard work off-the-ball to make up for Dzeko's lack of defensive work rate/energy.
Poacher | Centre Forward
Edin Dzeko epitomises the 'Poacher' role, given his instinctive ability to be in the right spot at the right time for an easy tap-in. I added a few player instructions to account for his lack of pace and mobility.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Quarter-Finals
Qatar
This summer, Qatar will compete in their second successive World Cup campaign, after hosting the 2022 World Cup last time out. Since that tournament, the side have come on leaps and bounds, and will be looking to go one better (and maybe even better beyond!) their previous Group Stage finish. Could 2026 be a defining year for Qatar, as a footballing nation, and its national team...?!
Qatar's footballing culture and history has only really been documented regarding the previous few years, beginning from the arrival of former FC Barcelona youth head coach, Felix Sanchez. Since then, Qatar's national team has adopted a number of typical Spanish tactical roots, such as the idea of dominating possession through teamwork and a subsequent, abundance of passes per match.
The appointment of Qatar's current national team Manager, Julen Lopetegui, largely leans into this implementation — Lopetegui's sides, across his managerial career, have typically dominated possession in matches, slowly circulating possession side-to-side to find gaps to penetrate. Lopetegui's Qatar usually set up in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation, with an emphasis on moving play wide and working the ball into ideal, crossing positions — in fact, for all his side's possession, they tend to create their best chances through crossing situations, whipping fierce crosses into dangerous positions for attackers to scramble at. Lopetegui's side will look to build-up play as often as possible, beginning their possession-based game early. Off-the-ball, Lopetegui has set his side up in a 5-3-2 high/mid-block, focused on forcing play wide and preventing easy progression into central areas.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
Here, I've predominantly looked to replicate Julen Lopetegui's Qatar side in-real-life. There's an emphasis on keeping possession, with players given licence to express themselves, and moving the ball into wide areas, wherefrom they can work ideal crossing situations.
Out of Possession
Once more, I've mainly recreated Lopetegui's Qatar side in-real-life. The 'Drop Off More' instruction urges the team to drop off if the opposition plays through the (somewhat of a) high-press/high-block. Finally, 'Counter-Press' is applied to enhance our possession-dominance.
Player Roles
Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
No additional instructions.
Advanced Wing-Back | Full-Back
In this system, the right-back tends to move higher than the left-back, often playing in-line with the most advanced attackers in the team when Qatar has the ball. From here, the right-back largely stays wider whilst aiming crosses to the striker (target forward). Additionally, the right-back will often attack the penalty area when crosses are whipped in by the left-back.
Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
Boualem Khoukhi is Qatar's most technically proficient centre-back, possessing a fantastic passing range and ability to pick out runners along the last line of attack. I added the 'Stay Wider' instruction to urge him to move into more of a 'quarter-back' position, wherefrom he will be in a perfect position to launch accurate, penetrative passes from deep, posing a potential dilemma to the opposition considering the advanced positioning of the right-back beyond.
Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Wing-Back | Full-Back
On the left side of defence, the left-back will move higher and wider — just not as high as the right-back, and certainly doesn't attack the opposition's penalty area with the same aggression. Instead, the left-back is usually the one trying to pick out his full-back partner with deep, whipped crosses towards the back post. I added the 'Dribble More' instruction to add more attacking thrust to his role.
Half-Back | Centre-Back
In this system, the holding midfielder will usually drop into the backline to create a three-man base for the team.
No additional instructions.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
Julen Lopetegui's teams down the years, from Sevilla to West Ham, have typically included a defensive midfielder, a playmaker, and a box-to-box midfielder; this is said box-to-box midfielder... with the 'Make More Runs' instruction to provide a late, surging crossing target if needed.
Midfield Playmaker | Central Midfielder
This is Lopetegui's customary playmaker in midfield — 'Dribble More' is applied to add more attacking thrust to an otherwise reserved role.
Inside Winger | Tracking Attacking Midfielder
I chose this role to best accommodate the aggressive, attacking positioning of the right-back. I added the 'Cut Inside With Ball' instruction in an attempt to create even more space on the flank for the right-back to eventually exploit, whilst the 'Take More Risks' instruction is chosen by design of trying to consistently find the right back and his runs.
Inside Forward | Tracking Centre Forward
Here, I tried to best maximise the stupendous talents of Akram Afif, of whom is probably Qatar's star player. My efforts consisted of giving him licence to take on his man, pick out teammates with riskier passes, and linking play with short, quick passes. I chose the 'Tracking Centre Forward' role to urge more compactness and defensive solidity from the entire team as a unit.
Target Forward | Centre Forward
Mohammed Muntari is a quintessential target man, looking to use his tall frame to his advantage to facilitate play and win aerial duels. If the opposition press Qatar really high and aggressively, the team will happily go long to Muntari, trusting the striker's ability to hold up play. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to encourage him to drift wider at times to create situational overloads.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 16
Switzerland
Switzerland returns to the World Cup stage for the sixth competition in a row, accumulating their 13th-total appearance at a World Cup. At the most recent World Cup, in 2022, Switzerland were knocked out at the Round of 16 stage — however, since then, the team's fortunes have changed for the better — as I'll get onto soon — and they look in prime position to eclipse their best-ever outing on the global stage, the Quarter-Finals, of which they reached on three, separate occasions (1934, 1938, 1954).
Since the somewhat disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign, Murat Yakin and his side have undergone major renovation tactically, becoming one of the best and most exciting sides in the world. This free-flowing, attacking style of play saw them come inches away from reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2024, after previously dominating Italy in the Round of 16 in the competition.
Yakin sets up his side, on paper, in a 3-4-2-1/3-4-3 formation — however, following a multitude of wacky, positional rotations, the team's shape barely resembles anything close to that shape. His side, at Euro 2024, weren't necessarily 'possession-dominant' nor 'possession-oriented' — however, they used the ball possession as a platform to build dynamic, relentless waves of attacks from. When his side didn't have the ball, Murat Yakin showed incredible tactical flexibility as his side ranged from being able to press high in a man-to-man fashion to being able to sit off in a mid/low-block, although, we did see the former more usually, even against 'better' teams. For a deeper look at how the Overlapping Centre-Back and inverted Wing-Back rotations that define this Swiss system work in FM26, our FM26 role synergy guide covers the exact pairings in depth.
Let's Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
As aforementioned, Yakin's Switzerland never deliberately dominated possession — it was more a by-product of their play, including their quick, short passing moves. Players were given immense allowances to express themselves and rotate with one another, forging a very fluid system. Their ball control began from deep, with the team building up regularly from deep — as they would progress up the pitch, there was a clear idea and emphasis on creating and attacking space in-behind the opposition's defence. The multitude of positional rotations weren't for effect, they were for the effect of creating and attacking space, which Switzerland did very well. In the final third, they were very patient.
Out of Possession
Whilst Yakin's side were excellently coached and, as such, fantastically, tactically flexible, they were most likely to press the opposition high in man-to-man fashion. To supplement their high-press, as well as compact the space in midfield, the defensive line were instructed to hold a higher line, whilst also being asked to step up more often to engage in closing down dropping, opposition attackers.
Opposition Instructions
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper
Gregor Kobel was, and still is, a big part of Switzerland's build-up game, as he would move higher up the pitch to become the extra man for the team — upon receiving the ball, he would tend to carry it forward slightly and/or wait before distributing the ball short.
(DCR & DC) Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Centre-Back
No additional instructions.
Overlapping Centre-Back | Centre-Back
Ricardo Rodriguez' movements were the first of a chain reaction to trigger other counter-movements ahead of him. From this left centre-back position, he would move much wider and would overlap like a typical wing-back would... Upon receiving the ball, Rodriguez would tend to carry the ball forward and, at times, could advance as high as reaching the byline.
Wing-Back | Pressing Wing-Back
The right wing-back, for all the madness around them, held a pretty conventional, traditional wing-back role. He would stay wider and hug the touchline and could, at times, make runs in-behind the opposition's defensive line. Upon receiving the ball, especially if it was Dan Ndoye, the wing-back would look to regularly take on his man. I added the 'Take More Risks' instruction to encourage this wing-back to find a runner beyond him more often. Both wing-backs, in this system, would press very high and could even, at times, engage in closing down the opposition's full-backs in their deep build-up.
Playmaking Wing-Back | Pressing Wing-Back
Chaos ensues on the opposite side, however, when Aebischer would invert from a left wing-back position and move into the left half-space, particularly into a typical 'left 10' position on the pitch. With Rodriguez' wide, overlapping movements beneath him, Aebischer has the luxury of making these inverted movements and roaming from his position. I added the 'Make More Runs' instruction to add a layer of spontaneity to our wide link-ups on the left side, which often sees a few quick exchanges of short, zipped passes before a runner is found in-behind the opposition's defence.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder
Remo Freuler, in this system, epitomised a 'Box-To-Box Midfielder' role, possessing the initiative to drop deep and surge beyond whenever he please — the latter would appear with quite the regularity, as he was often found running in-behind the opposition's defence. I added the 'Roam From Position' instruction to add a further layer of unpredictability to his positioning, as well as opening up the opportunity for him to drift away from the numbers en masse.
Deep-Lying Playmaker | Defensive Midfielder
Granit Xhaka was a quintessential deep-lying playmaker in this system.
No additional instructions.
Attacking Midfielder | Tracking Attacking Midfielder
The right '10', in this system, had a very niche role and set of responsibilities, as he was instructed to stay wider at times to open up the right half-space for Remo Freuler to penetrate at will, however, he was also given licence to roam from his position and make runs beyond himself... I added the 'Take More Risks' instruction to urge him to find the runs of the wing-back or Remo Freuler with a greater regularity. Both '10s', in this system, would drop deeper as the team progressively dropped deeper to create a 5-4-1 mid/low-block shape.
Wide Forward | Tracking Attacking Midfielder
Vargas' role was just as difficult to pin down, as he could both hold the width and invert into the left half-space, as well as being given licence to roam from his position too. In any case, upon receiving the ball, he would look to take on his man and cut inside.
Centre Forward | Centre Forward
Breel Embolo would tend to attack the channels with aggression and determination — from here, he could hold up play and bring others into play during Switzerland's devastating counter-attacking situations. Like most other attackers in this system, he was given licence to roam from his position at will.
Results
FIFA World Cup 2026: Winners
Conclusion
Thank you very much for reading the second part of this twelve-part series: Football Heritage — FM Blog's Road to the World Cup. I hope you have enjoyed this style of writing and content, and keep your eyes peeled for the other eleven parts of this series through DAILY tactic releases from the 31st, May until the 11th, June.
If you want a taste of these symbolic tactics, make sure to download the tactics using the link attached to this article and make sure to follow FM Blog (@fmbIog) and myself (@AshtonGgmu) on our respective socials. For more FM26 tactical recreations from across the globe, browse the full FM Blog tactics library. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with these tactics on your saves! Thanks for reading!
