After the latest patch dropped, the way matches play out has changed a lot. Some of the old go-to tactics don’t hit the same anymore, while new setups have started to shine. If you’ve spent time tweaking your game, you’ll know how important it is to adapt quickly. The 4-3-2-1 has become one of the most effective shapes right now, and when paired with the right tweaks, it can give you a real edge. Whether you’re chasing wins in Rivals or grinding Weekend League, these settings can make a big difference – and if you’re looking to build your squad faster, FC 26 Coins can help you get there.
The defensive setup is simple but smart. Keep it on Balanced so your backline doesn’t wander out of position too much. A width of 45 keeps things tight in the middle, shutting down easy passes through the centre. The depth setting is where things get interesting – push it up to 71. That high line triggers the auto offside trap and lets you press hard when the ball’s lost. You’ll force mistakes and win the ball back in dangerous spots without having to spam the press button.
For attacking, stick with Balanced build-up. This keeps you flexible – you won’t get stuck playing one style. Switch chance creation to Direct Passing. This makes your forwards look for runs in behind, lining up perfectly with that high defensive line. An attacking width of 47 keeps your front three close enough for quick passes and one-twos. Set Players in Box to 6 so you’ve got bodies ready to finish but not so many that you’re wide open on the counter. Corners and free kicks at 2 help avoid getting punished on breakaways.
The magic’s in the player instructions. Your keeper should be on Comes for Crosses and Sweeper Keeper – you’ll need them to be brave off their line when playing high. Full-backs should be Stay Back While Attacking but still set to Overlap. This way they’re safe against counters but can still give you width when you’re camped in the final third. Pre-patch, you might’ve had them join the attack more often, but now it’s too risky with the high depth.
Your most defensive CM should be Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center. This is your shield – pick someone with strong tackling and positioning. The other two CMs can stay on balanced with Cover Center. They’re your box-to-box engines, helping out in all areas. You’ll notice they’re key for linking defence and attack, especially when you win the ball high.
Forwards need to help defensively too. Set both LF and RF to Come Back on Defence and Get in Behind. When you’re defending, this pulls them into a compact 4-4-2 shape, making it harder to break you down. In attack, they’ll be ready to burst past the defence. Your striker should be Stay Central and Get in Behind. Keep them in the middle where they’re most dangerous, and they’ll be your main goal threat.
Once you’ve got these settings locked in, you’ll notice the difference fast. The 4-3-2-1 in this patch is all about balance – solid at the back, dangerous going forward, and able to press without burning all your stamina. The key is not just the formation, but how each role is tuned to work together. If you’re serious about climbing the ranks, get these tactics set up and make sure your squad has the right players for each job. And if you need to speed up building that perfect team, you can always buy cheap FC 26 Coins to get the players you want quicker.