Northern Ireland senior men’s manager, Michael O’Neill, has shared some of his experiences after serving on FIFA’s Technical Study Group during the current FIFA World Cup 2026.
Working alongside some of the game’s most respected coaches and former internationals, O’Neill has spent the tournament analysing matches, identifying tactical trends and contributing to FIFA’s technical observations under the leadership of FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger.
Reflecting on the experience, O’Neill described it as both demanding and immensely rewarding.
“I have been part of the Technical Study Group, which brings together current and former coaches to analyse the tournament. It’s something that has been put together by Arsène Wenger, who is FIFA’s Head of Global Football Development.
“Our role has been to study the games, sometimes in a video suite and sometimes in person. It has been busy, but it’s been an enjoyable and educational experience.”
The Technical Study Group features a host of high-profile names from across the global game, providing O’Neill with the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with coaches from different footballing cultures.
“The group includes the likes of Jon Dahl Tomasson, who managed Sweden when we played them last year, Aaron Winter, the former Netherlands international, Paulo Wanchope from Costa Rica, Jürgen Klinsmann and Pablo Zabaleta.
“There’s also been a team of younger analysts working for FIFA and we’ve worked very closely with them throughout the tournament. The conversations have been detailed, constructive and always centred around football.”
For O’Neill, one of the biggest benefits has been the opportunity to study a wide variety of international teams in detail – something that is rarely possible during the international calendar.
“You’re always looking at how other teams and potential opponents play, but the reality is that international matches usually all take place at the same time, so it’s very difficult to watch other games in depth.
“This experience has given me the chance to see how nations of all sizes approach the game – their playing style, their set pieces and how they react when they’re winning or losing. Some of the smaller nations have really excelled at this tournament and exceeded a lot of people’s expectations, so from a Northern Ireland perspective there’s a lot we can learn.”
The tournament has also provided valuable insight into how elite international teams use data and analysis to prepare players.
“Before every game we’ve been briefed on how each team plays, which really helps with the analysis. There’s been a huge amount of information and data available.
“It’s also made me think about how information is presented and how we strike the right balance between providing enough detail while keeping it concise enough for players to absorb in a short period of time.”
O’Neill is keen to ensure the knowledge gained during the tournament benefits not only the senior men’s squad but football across Northern Ireland.
“I’m looking forward to sharing everything with Aaron Hughes and the wider coaching team when I return, and looking at how we can cascade some of that learning through the age-group teams and into the women’s game as well.
“A lot of these developments are driven by resources, so we have to be realistic about what we can implement. But being at a tournament like this gives you a clear picture of where international football is heading, and as a nation of our size we don’t want to be left behind.”
While the experience has provided valuable technical and tactical learning, it has also strengthened O’Neill’s determination to lead Northern Ireland back to football’s biggest stage.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a lot of work, watching games in great depth and then carrying out the analysis afterwards.
“More than anything, it has given me even greater motivation to keep developing us as a nation so that we can be at a future World Cup. This tournament is only going to continue to grow and improve, and we want Northern Ireland to be part of it.”