2026 World Cup Tactical Analysis

Course Description

Fans watch the World Cup; coaches see the World Cup.

Learn lessons from this summer’s World Cup and improve your ability to quickly recognise patterns in team and player performance with the analysis framework presented in this course.

Last summer, Raymond Verheijen analysed 2026 World Cup games at two levels: team intentions and individual intentions. He will share his ability to recognise the same patterns in different playing styles. Game by game, pattern by pattern. In particular, he will analyse defending tactical concepts for 1-5-4-1, 1-5-3-2, 1-4-4-2, 1-4-3-3 and 1-3-4-3 performance by Spain, Argentina, France and England amongst other countries. Raymond will pay special attention to the individual player analysis of top players like Rodri, Messi, Kane and M’Bappe amongst other World Cup players.

By the end of the course, you will see more of what you are watching.

Course Procedure

Duration

Seven months. Approximately 5 hours per month (one hour per week). All clips remain available until September 1, 2027 for you to watch, re-watch and reflect.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Identify a team’s strengths and weaknesses before the end of the first half, so you can make adjustments at half-time.
• Analyse individual players within their team context, so you can amplify or reduce their impact on the game.
• Use team intentions and individual intentions as a structured analytical framework so you can recognise even stronger patterns within teams and players between games.
• Distinguish between what a team is trying to do and what individual players actually do.
• Apply the same tactical analysis framework Raymond Verheijen has used across 4 World Cups and 4 European Championships, reaching four semi-finals and one final.

About the Instructor

Raymond Verheijen is the founder of Football Coach Evolution. He has worked as a coach and analyst at 4 World Cups and 4 European Championships, and has written multiple books on football periodisation and tactical analysis. His courses are followed by coaches and analysts across more than 100 countries.

Registration Details

Course fee: €295

The course starts on November 1, 2026.

All clips are available to re-watch until September 1, 2027.

Course Details

• Start date: November 1, 2026
• Duration: 7 months · 4-6 hours per month
• Format: Monthly pre-recorded clips
• Q&A: After the group phase and after final with Raymond Verheijen
• Level: Mix – suitable for developing and experienced coaches and analysts
• Language: English
• Certificate: Yes, upon completion
• Price: €295

COURSE PROGRAM

November 2026: Tactical Analysis based on Attacking Team Intentions.
– Netherlands vs Japan
– Argentina vs Algeria

December: Tactical Analysis based on Defending Team Intentions.
– USA vs Australia
– Spain vs Saudi Arabia
– Portugal vs Uzbekistan

January 2027: Player Analysis based on Attacking Individual Intentions.
– Brazil vs Japan
– England vs Congo
– Belgium vs Senegal

February: Player Analysis based on Defending Individual Intentions.
– Spain vs Portugal
– France vs Morocco
– Belgium vs USA

March: Team and Player Analysis: Patterns between Matches.
– England vs Norway
– Argentina vs Switzerland

April: Team and Player Analysis: Tactical Predictions before Matches)
– France vs Spain
– Argentina vs England

May: Team and Player Analysis: Tactical Adjustments during Matches.
– Spain vs Argentina