In Football, the formation describes how the team players are positioned on the field. A team's formation defines the playing tactic of the team as it shows the position of each player. The formation does not define the roles of players, however a player's position in a formation defines whether a player has a defensive or attacking role, and whether they are supposed to play towards one side of the pitch or centrally.
Formations are generally described usually by three, four or five numbers, which indicate how many players are in each row of the formation from the most defensive to the most forward. For instance, the 3–5–2 formation has three defenders, five midfielders, and two attackers. Goalkeeper is not counted in a formation as their position is always fixed. Different formations can be used for a match depending on the game plan and tactics needed and a team's coach and switch between formations during a game.
Team's manager / coach selects the formation before and during the game and players have to follow it.
In FIFA, there are over 30 formations available to choose for your team.
List of Formations
Here is the list of formations used in FIFA game.
- 3-1-4-2
- 3-4-1-2
- 3-4-2-1
- 3-4-3
- 3-4-3 Diamond
- 3-4-3 Flat
- 3-5-1-1
- 3-5-2
- 4-1-2-1-2
- 4-1-2-1-2 (2)
- 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow
- 4-1-2-1-2 Wide
- 4-1-3-2
- 4-1-4-1
- 4-2-2-2
- 4-2-3-1
- 4-2-3-1 (2)
- 4-2-3-1 Narrow
- 4-2-3-1 Wide
- 4-2-4
- 4-3-1-2
- 4-3-2-1
- 4-3-3
- 4-3-3 (2)
- 4-3-3 (3)
- 4-3-3 (4)
- 4-3-3 (5)
- 4-3-3 Attack
- 4-3-3 Defend
- 4-3-3 False 9
- 4-3-3 Flat
- 4-3-3 Holding
- 4-4-1-1
- 4-4-1-1 Attack
- 4-4-1-1 Midfield
- 4-4-2
- 4-4-2 (2)
- 4-4-2 Flat
- 4-4-2 Holding
- 4-5-1
- 4-5-1 (2)
- 4-5-1 Attack
- 4-5-1 Flat
- 5-2-1-2
- 5-2-2-1
- 5-2-3
- 5-3-2
- 5-4-1 Diamond
- 5-4-1 Flat