eFootball 2026: Top 5 Best Formations for the Possession Game playstyle

Keeping possession of the ball has become a key strategy in eFootball 2026, especially after recent updates improved passing. Players who are good at passing are now very effective at controlling the game and creating more scoring opportunities.

To really succeed with a possession-based style of play, choosing the right formation is key. In this article, we’ll cover the 5 best formations for dominating possession in eFootball 2026, explaining how they function and why they’re so effective at controlling the game.

Top 5 Best Formations for Possession Game in eFootball 2026

Okay, here are five good choices for the Possession Style.

1) 4-3-3

For players looking for a reliable setup, the classic 4-3-3 formation is a great choice. It’s particularly effective if you’ve found the game doesn’t fully support wide attacks. While good dribbling skills are always useful, strong passing and ball control are what really make this formation shine, allowing you to dominate any opponent and tactic.

This formation relies on a strong midfield. Ideally, all three midfielders should be able to pass well, and one in particular – the central midfielder – should have exceptional long-range passing ability. This allows you to quickly reach a forward player who’s making a run downfield, even from a distance.

A strong central midfielder, acting as a playmaker, is best, with two other midfielders supporting them. These supporting players should be able to cover a lot of ground and control the tempo of the game. While a more attacking central midfielder could also work, it’s not necessary since you already have players who can drop back to help defend.

For your defense, you can use two strong central defenders, or a combination of different types. Your fullbacks should be well-rounded, contributing to both defense and attack. A great attacking combination is a winger who likes to roam and find space, paired with a prolific winger, and a striker focused on scoring goals. To maximize this, set your striker to use a counter-attack tactic, which will help them quickly receive through balls.

2) 4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 formation might seem predictable, but it’s still incredibly effective. Having two central midfielders – usually a defensive-minded player and either a playmaker or an aggressive ball-winner – creates a solid defensive base with six players, allowing the other four to attack freely.

Your attacking midfielder should be your primary playmaker, so tell them to stay central – if they move too wide, their passing options will be limited. Instead, use a winger who likes to cut inside – a ‘Roaming Flank’ – to provide another creative outlet. Make sure you have good backup players for these positions, as they’ll be heavily involved in the game.

When you only have one forward, they need to be able to both hold the ball up and make runs in behind the defense. A good option would be a player who’s strong in the air and a good finisher – either a classic ‘Target Man’ or a more agile ‘Fox in the Box’ type. Make sure to also give this player the ‘One Touch Pass’ skill to help with quick, accurate distribution.

When defending, you can use a formation similar to a 4-3-3, but with one fullback pushing forward to create attacking opportunities and deliver more crosses into the penalty area.

3) 3-4-2-1

We’re switching to a more attacking setup this time. This formation is ideal for players who prefer to control possession and build plays through the center of the field. Your central defenders should include two players with the ‘Build Up’ style to help pass the ball safely out from the back, and one ‘Destroyer’ type defender.

Try using players with the ‘Offensive Fullback’ or ‘Cross Specialist’ roles on the wings to spread the attack and improve your passing options. In the center of midfield, a defensive-minded ‘Anchor Man’ works well alongside a ‘Box-to-Box’ midfielder. Think of a standard four-defender setup, but with the Box-to-Box player focusing more on defense – players like Lothar Matthäus or Federico Valverde would be ideal for this role.

To help your team hold its formation, set one of your midfielders to ‘Anchor’. In attack, play a Creative Playmaker or Classic No. 10 just behind a single striker – ideally, a Fox in the Box or Goal Poacher. Since you don’t have natural wingers, tell your attacking midfielders to get forward and be aggressive.

4) 4-3-1-2

I know some people were excited to see a two-striker formation, but I actually think a single striker is enough to get goals. Formations like the 4-3-1-2 Diamond or even a classic 4-4-2 are better if you want to control the game with possession. For now, I’m going to keep using the 4-3-1-2 because I’m comfortable with it.

The 3+1 midfield focuses on quick, short passing and overwhelming the center of the field. To make it more attacking, you can change the Advanced Midfielder (AMF) into a Shadow Striker (SS). Up front, you have two effective combinations: a Poacher, Deep Lying Forward, and Creative Playmaker, or a False Inverted Trequartista (FITB), Hole Player, and Dummy Runner – but with all three playing as Shadow Strikers.

Both midfield setups are viable, but the second one will put a lot of pressure on your central players, so they need to be strong defenders. I typically use a ‘Destroyer’ paired with an ‘Anchor Man’ in midfield, and the ‘Box-to-Box’ midfielder should be skilled technically.

If you’re not using traditional wingers, your fullbacks need to move far up the field to provide width and create space in the opponent’s defense. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble finding passing lanes. To cover the defensive gaps this creates, set specific instructions for your defensive and central midfielders. You can also tell your defensive midfielder to stay deep and, when attacking with a three-at-the-back formation, automatically switch to a five-at-the-back setup when defending.

5) 4-1-4-1

Here’s how I’ve recreated Pep Guardiola’s tactics from his Champions League-winning season in eFootball. It’s essentially a 3-2-4-1 formation when attacking, if set up correctly. A key part is the defensive midfielder – I use an ‘Anchor Man’ on the left side to stay put, and he needs to be strong at winning the ball back.

To boost attacks, use a player with the ‘Box-to-Box’ or ‘Orchestrator’ role on the right side of the field. This allows you to drop back to a defensive line of three center-backs and use an attacking fullback. With two defensive midfielders already covering space, and a fullback or ‘Fullback Finisher’ joining the attack, you’ll have five players pushing forward.

To really challenge the opposing team’s defense, position your wingers as far out wide as possible. You can use a strong, scoring winger in those positions, or place a player who excels at crossing the ball in the midfield. Another good option for the midfield is a creative playmaker. Up front, a combination of a goal-scoring striker and a player who excels at finding space (a ‘hole player’) will work best.

2025-09-26 09:13