FIFA has unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group (TSG) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a team of former international players and experienced coaches set to analyse matches and determine the winners of the tournament’s top individual awards.

The panel was announced on Monday during a virtual media briefing ahead of the competition, which is scheduled to kick off next month at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico.

Leading the group is FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler, alongside a distinguished lineup that includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and former United States coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva.

The panel also features former United States international Tobin Heath, Denmark coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, former Wales women’s coach Jayne Ludlow and Dutch football great Aron Winter.

According to FIFA, the Technical Study Group will combine expert tactical analysis with advanced performance data to provide comprehensive insights into the tournament and produce the official technical report of the competition.

The group will also be responsible for selecting recipients of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards at the end of the tournament.

“The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football,” a FIFA spokesperson said during the briefing.

“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.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, with a record 104 matches to be played across host nations the United States, Canada and Mexico.