29 football formations, grouped by how teams actually play
Every shape comes with a preview, a style bucket, and a direct route into the tactics board to adapt it for your own team.
What to look for in a formation
Four pillars we use to describe what a shape actually does, so you can pick the one your team is built for.
Attacking shape
Where the numerical overload lives: central overload, wide overload, or half-space runners.
Defensive shape
How the team compresses out of possession, back four with double pivot, back five with wing-backs, or mid-block 4-4-2.
Transitions
Which channels the shape opens on regain, and where it concedes the first transition line if the press is bypassed.
Set-piece fit
Aerial profile, rotation roles, and restart structures a given formation tends to produce.
Possession-first
Shapes that prioritize central overloads, short passing angles, and midfield dominance.
4-1-2-1-2
Diamond midfield with a holding mid at the base and attacking mid at the tip
4-1-2-1-2 (2) Narrow
Narrow diamond with interior CMs instead of wide midfielders
4-1-3-2
Single holding midfielder with a flat three and two strikers
4-2-3-1
Double pivot with three attacking mids and a lone striker
4-2-3-1 (2) Wide
Double pivot with wide midfielders and a central attacking mid behind the striker
4-3-1-2
Three midfielders with a CAM behind two strikers
4-3-2-1 (Christmas Tree)
Narrow formation tapering toward goal like a Christmas tree
Pressing-compact
Shapes that close distances between lines and press high as a unit.
3-4-3
Three defenders, four midfielders, and a front three
4-2-1-3
Double pivot with an attacking midfielder and front three
4-2-4
Two central midfielders supporting four forwards
4-3-3
Balanced formation with wide attackers and strong midfield presence
4-3-3 (2) CDM
Three-man midfield with a deeper CDM flanked by two advanced CMs
4-3-3 (3) Twin CDM
Two holding mids flanking a more advanced CM behind the front three
4-3-3 (4) CAM
Three-man midfield with an advanced CAM flanked by two deeper CMs
Defensive-solid
Shapes that stack defenders and screen the back line to resist sustained pressure.
4-1-4-1
Holding midfielder screens the defense while four midfielders support a lone striker
4-5-1
Packed five-man midfield with wide mids and three central mids, lone striker
4-5-1 (2) Three CMs
Wide mids flanking three central midfielders, lone striker up front
5-2-1-2
Five-man defense with wing backs, double pivot, a CAM, and two strikers
5-2-3
Five-man backline with two central midfielders and a front three
5-3-2
Defensive five-back with a midfield three and two strikers
5-4-1
Very defensive five-back with a flat four midfield and lone striker
Wing-back
Shapes built around attacking wing-backs providing width and late runs.
Hybrid
Shapes that flex between attacking and defensive structures based on possession.
3-1-4-2
Three defenders with a single CDM, wide midfield, and two strikers
4-2-2-2
Double pivot with two wide attacking mids and two strikers
4-4-1-2
Three wide mids plus a CAM forming the attacking band, two strikers up front
4-4-2
Classic flat four midfield with two strikers
4-4-2 (2) Holding Mids
Flat four with two defensive midfielders replacing the interior CMs
Curated formation comparisons
High-intent matchups that cover the tradeoffs coaches actually debate, build-up dominance, midfield occupation, pressing angles, and width.
4-3-3 vs 4-4-2
Compare a wide front-three structure against the classic flat-four midfield to understand width, pressing angles, and midfield occupation.
4-2-3-1 vs 4-3-3
See how the double pivot and central 10 differ from a three-midfield structure when you need balance between security and front-line support.
3-5-2 vs 4-4-2
Use this comparison to highlight wing-back height, central overloads, and the tradeoff between a back three and a flat back four.
4-1-4-1 vs 4-2-3-1
Contrast a single-pivot structure with a double-pivot setup to coach defensive cover, rest defense, and support around the striker.
Turn any formation into a board sequence
Open FC Tactix to load any of these 29 formations, adapt the shape, animate the key phases, and export for your staff or squad.