FIFA 19 Best Formations (Top 10 Strongest Formations)

Advice for FIFA players on the best formations with tips on play style

Updated:

14 May 2020

Sometimes, having the greatest players in the world means absolutely nothing if you don’t use them properly. A strong formation is the key to success. The following is a list of the best formations that you can use in FIFA 19, including attacking, defending, and neutral formations.

10. 4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 formation is neutral in the sense that it can be changed around based on need. Whichever way you choose to use it, it consists of four defenders (can also use wingbacks), two defensive midfielders, a center midfielder, two outside midfielders or wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 4-2-3-1 Great

This formation has many variations and can either be narrow or wide, based on your need or play style.
It can be used in both attacking and defending styles.
Your players will share the workload very evenly in this formation, meaning that they’ll be able to play longer without running out of energy and risking injury.

See 4-2-3-1 in Action: https://youtu.be/8_ohV0ZIQSs

9. 4-5-1

Like the 4-2-3-1 formation, the 4-5-1 is also versatile based on whether you are looking for attacking, defending, or a neutral stance. It consists of four defenders (can use wingbacks), one defensive midfielder, two attacking or central midfielders, two outside midfielders or wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 4-5-1 Great

It has many variations, including the base formation, defensive, attacking, and flat (neutral).
This formation will allow you to dominate the midfield.
This formation also allows for the workload to be shared evenly among your players.

See 4-5-1 in Action: https://youtu.be/6lIg0d-bjr0

8. 4-3-3

The 4-3-3 formation is very useful and can also be set up in attacking, defensive, and neutral type formations. It consists of four defenders (can also use wingbacks), three center midfielders (depending on the specific 4-3-3, they may be CM’s, CAM’s, or CDM’s), two wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 4-3-3 Great

It can be used in many different types of game situations.
It will allow you to dominate the midfield.
It allows you to have much more control over the flow of the game.

See 4-3-3 in Action: https://youtu.be/JqKqJ90QQu8

7. 3-4-2-1

This is a heavily attacking formation, so it is best used in scenerios when you must score and you have a very solid defense. It consists of three defenders, two center midfielders, two outside midfielders, two wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 3-4-2-1 Great

This is a great formation when you need to be on the attack.
This formation will force your opponent to be more defensive, thereby taking pressure off of your own defense.
It allows for heavy coverage on the outside midfield, preventing many crossing scenarios.

See 3-4-2-1 in Action: https://youtu.be/48wfZUZ5i-A

6. 3-4-3

The 3-4-3 formation is very similar to the 3-4-2-1, but it is flatter and more compact. It consists of three defenders, two center midfielders, two outside midfielders, two wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 3-4-3 Great

This is also a great formation for an offensive mode.
It is very compact, which gives you a lot of control over the flow of the game.
It will allow you to dominate the midfield.

See 3-4-3 in Action: https://youtu.be/kWd0t0dvFCk

5. 3-5-2

My personal favorite, the 3-5-2, is another great formation to use for attacking and possession. It consists of three defenders, two defensive midfielders, two outside midfielders, one attacking midfielder, and two strikers. You will notice that this is similar to a 3-4-1-2 formation, but the 3-5-2 is slightly more compact and has a staggered midfield line versus very distinct lines of midfielders.

What Makes 3-5-2 Great

This is a great formation for attacking and scoring goals.
It allows you to dominate the midfield.
Because of the way the attackers are set up, it will allow them to have many passing/crossing opportunities between them. This makes scoring a lot easier.

See 3-5-2 in Action: https://youtu.be/wDZ878Qm4cU

4. 5-2-2-1

The 5-2-2-1 formation is really great for defensive tactics and hitting your opponent on the counter attack. It consists of three center defenders, two wingbacks, two center midfielders, two wingers, and a striker.

What Makes 5-2-2-1 Great

It will allow you to have a solid defense.
It allows the entire team to push together for counter attacks.
This formation also allows for many passing/crossing opportunities between the attackers.

See 5-2-2-1 in Action: https://youtu.be/mujFcKWMSrY

3. 4-3-1-2

This is a formation which is pretty neutral, but is controlled by your attackers. It consists of four defenders, three center midfielders, an attacking center midfielder, and two strikers.

What Makes 4-3-1-2 Great

It allows you to dominate the midfield.
It is a great formation to use for possession play.
It allows you to have many attacking options.

See 4-3-1-2 in Action: https://youtu.be/5v6oA5F3G2Q

2. 4-1-2-1-2

The 4-1-2-1-2 formation is often referred to as the diamond midfield. It consists of four defenders, a defensive center midfielder, two outside midfielders, an attacking midfielder, and two strikers.

What Makes 4-1-2-1-2 Great

It is a very versatile formation, having many variations.

It allows for many passing options between all players.

It allows the team to shift together (up, back, side to side).

See 4-1-2-1-2 in Action: https://youtu.be/YjQPHxbS3VI

1. 4-4-2

You can’t beat the classics. The 4-4-2 is the most well-known formation and allows for both full team attacking and defending. It consists of four defenders, two center midfielders, two outside midfielders, and two strikers.

What Makes 4-4-2 Great

This is a very versatile formation with numerous variations.

It allows for many passing/scoring options.

It allows you to dominate the midfield.

See 4-4-2 in Action: https://youtu.be/bZYJfZsIQ2Y