Former Black Stars coach, Otto Addo will be working with 10 members of the Technical Study Group (TSG) appointed by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) for the 2026 World Cup.

The panel will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and Tom Gardner, Head of Football Performance Insights (FPI). They will be supported by a team of football analysts, data engineers, data scientists, and performance analysts based on-site in Miami and Dallas, as well as off-site in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The group will be guided by FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, who brings vast coaching and technical experience.

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They will play an integral role in studying various aspects of the matches and contributing to decisions involving technical analysis.

Role of the Panel

Undertake rigorous analysis of matches, focusing on tactical trends, playing structures, transitions, set-pieces, and other key aspects of the game.

Scrutinize set-piece approaches, transitions, and performance indicators to build a comprehensive database.

Compile findings into FIFA Technical Reports, which will serve as references for coaches, analysts, and football institutions worldwide.

Contribute to selecting winners of individual awards at the tournament, including the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player honors.

Members of the Panel

Otto Addo (Ghana): Former Borussia Dortmund scout and Black Stars coach, who led Ghana to two World Cups including the 2026 edition.

Tobin Heath (USA): Former US midfielder, Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012), and World Cup winner (2015, 2019).

Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany): 1990 World Cup winner, Euro 1996 champion, and former manager of Germany, Bayern Munich, and the US national team.

Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina): Former Manchester City defender, currently assistant manager of Albania’s national team.

Jayne Ludlow (Wales): Former Wales captain (1996–2012) and later manager of the national team and youth sides.

Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland): Former player and manager, notably led Northern Ireland from 2011.

Gilberto Silva (Brazil): Former Arsenal and Brazil midfielder, now ambassador for Arsenal and FIFA.

Jon Dahl Tomasson (Denmark): Former player and manager, most recently coach of Sweden’s national team.

Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica): Former Premier League striker and coach, last managed Deportivo Saprissa.

Aron Winter (Netherlands): Former Ajax, Lazio, and Inter Milan midfielder, recently managed Suriname.

SB/JE

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