FIFA has unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, appointing former players and coaches to assess matches and determine the recipients of major individual honours during the tournament.
The panel was announced on Monday during a virtual media briefing monitored by The Nation ahead of the competition, which kicks off next month at Estadio Azteca.
The group will be headed by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and features former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, former Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland national football team manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup-winning midfielder Gilberto Silva.
Other members of the panel include Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter.
FIFA added that the group will also select the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards during the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will, for the first time, feature 48 teams, with 104 matches set to be played throughout the competition.
“The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football.”
“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,” a FIFA spokesperson said.