Football Formations

Explore practical guides for popular football formations and lineups by number of players.

Popular football formations

3-4-3

Complete guide to the 3-4-3 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

3-5-2

Complete guide to the 3-5-2 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

4-2-3-1

Complete guide to the 4-2-3-1 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

4-3-2-1

Complete guide to the 4-3-2-1 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

4-3-3

Complete guide to the 4-3-3 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

4-4-2

Complete guide to the 4-4-2 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

4-5-1

Complete guide to the 4-5-1 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

5-3-2

Complete guide to the 5-3-2 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

5-4-1

Complete guide to the 5-4-1 football formation: pros, cons, roles, and setup tips.

Formations by player count

Best 10v10 Formation

A practical guide to the best 10v10 football formations before full 11-a-side.

Best 5v5 Formation

A practical guide to the best 5v5 football formations for small-sided games.

Best 6v6 Formation

A practical guide to the best 6v6 football formations for small-sided games.

Best 7v7 Formation

A practical guide to the best 7v7 football formations for youth and small-sided games.

Best 8v8 Formation

A practical guide to the best 8v8 football formations for developing players.

Best 9v9 Formation

A practical guide to the best 9v9 football formations used in youth development.