FIFA 22 FUT: How to Build a 4-2-3-1 Formation
FIFA 22's narrow 4-2-3-1 formation gives strong defensive stability through two CDMs, with full custom tactics and player instructions.
4 min read
In brief
AI summaryFIFA 22's 4-2-3-1 formation uses two CDMs to cover space left by the center-backs, lowering the risk of conceding goals.
Recommended Custom Tactics include Slow Build-Up Play, Balanced defense, 60 attacking width, and 5 Players in Box.
The formation's main weakness is a lack of width from the attacking midfielders, best offset by using energetic, two-way full-backs.
Contents3 sections
The best formations for FUT in FIFA 22 will largely depend on the players you have available and exactly how you want to play on the pitch. If you're more of a defensive player, you might consider a back five, which helps stop teams from scoring against you. Alternatively, you might prefer the even player distribution that 4-4-2 provides, giving you a stable back line with enough midfielders to get the ball forward to your striker.
We're here with the 4-2-3-1 narrow formation, a setup that isn't used much but that we think, with the right team understanding, can really work for you.
FIFA 22 Best Tactics: 4-2-3-1
| Formation
4-2-3-1 |
Pros
|
Cons
|
|---|
If you're struggling to deal with your opponents in FIFA 22, 4-2-3-1 can be a great formation to give you plenty of defensive stability. Given the way the game is designed this year, assuming you assign your Custom Tactics correctly, your CDM players — who will help secure your back four — will have to do a lot more work than before. We'd say this formation is ideal to switch to once you find an early goal, take the lead, or are comfortably ahead.
The downside is that you won't get much width from your attacking midfielders operating behind the striker, but you can balance that out by using energetic full-backs who can play both ways. Remember, you'll still have those two CDMs in front of your back four, who can help clear up any potential counterattacks if the situation calls for it. Alternatively, you could also go with the Wide 4-2-3-1 formation, even though it does come with some weaknesses through the center of midfield.
One of the biggest handicaps of this formation is that scoring is difficult, and it needs to be thought of and managed as a compact shape. In attack, by keeping the ball moving with quick, close passing and one-touch play, you'll be able to find goals and then see the match out by shutting down the middle of the pitch.
4-2-3-1 Custom Tactics and Instructions
When setting up your Custom Tactics for 4-2-3-1, there's one important decision to make: how defensive a team do you want to be? If you're primarily after stability at the back, we'd recommend keeping your full-backs and CDMs in the same position during attacking phases. If you're after a bit more attacking power, you can set your full-back players' Attacking Runs to Balanced, and you can even give one of your CDMs a Get Forward instruction while attacking. That said, if you go with tactics like these, make sure your remaining CDM stays back, and set his instructions accordingly.
Here are some of the Custom Tactics worth considering for the 4-2-3-1 formation. If you want to keep more possession, you can increase your attacking width, but keep in mind this can work against you on the counter if you lose the ball.
Defense
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Width: 50
- Depth: 50
Attack
- Build-Up Play: Slow
- Chance Creation: Forward Runs or Balanced
- Width: 60
- Players in Box: 5
- Corners: 2
- Free Kicks: 2
Player Instructions
|
Position
|
Instructions
|
|---|---|
| GK |
|
| LB |
|
| LEFT CB |
|
| RIGHT CB |
|
| RB |
|
| LEFT CDM |
|
| RIGHT CDM |
|
| LEFT CAM |
|
| CENTER CAM |
|
| RIGHT CAM |
|
| ST |
|
