With the latest edition in the FIFA series only being available to play for a few days, one player has discovered a revolutionary tactic. William Carney, a professional FIFA player is convinced his newfound tactic is the best in the game - what is known as "FIFA 23 META" - the most effective tactics available.
FIFA 23 META: Pro player finds perfect set up
The Formation
William has his team set up in a 5-1-2-2 formation with various roles for all the players. Here's a guide on how to properly set it up.
Centre Backs
It's the default option for all of your centre backs, meaning they stay back whilst your team is attacking.
Left Back
With your centre backs providing defensive cover, you can tell your left back to join in with the attack. Every other instruction is the default setting.
Right Back
Your right back can join in with the attack as well. For defensive positioning and interceptions stick to the default setting
Left Central Midfielder
For the left side of your attack, attacking support, interceptions, stick to positioning and defensive position is all in the default setting. For support on crosses, instruct the player to get into the box for them.
Right Centre Midfielder
For the opposite side, its default setting for all of the instructions.
Central Defensive Midfielder
For the centre of the pitch, instruct your player to stay back whilst attacking and the rest of the instructions are default.
Left Striker
For the left side of your strike force, your striker's instructions are to stay forward whilst the team is defending. The rest are all default.
Right Striker
Default should be selected for all of the instructions for the other half.
FIFA 23 META Tactics
To use your team's formation in the most effective way select the following:
For defensive style, balanced is selected with the width at 47 and the depth at 63.
READ HERE: FIFA 23: The Best Irish Players To Sign For Career Mode
For offence the buildup play is through long balls and chance creation is by direct passing. 53 is selected for width and there should be 7 players in the box. Corners and free kicks are both the lowest option.
My 5-1-2-2 tactics. This is what I believe is the META right now in FIFA 23, give it a go and let me know what you think. pic.twitter.com/HAJqp2TSs3
— CareyFIFA (@William_Carey9) September 28, 2022
Why not a deep laying playmaker as the CDM?
The 16-year-old professional player addressed this on Twitter. According to him, the defensive midfielder has to be in a fixed position. If you use a deep laying playmaker it causes your defensive midfielder to go into an unnatural position in the 5-1-2-2.
You need the DM to be in a fixed position mate. Deep lying playmaker makes him push forward in an unnatural position in the 5-1-2-2. You need him right inform of the defence. So stick to position is a must for me bro. Hope this helped
— CareyFIFA (@William_Carey9) September 30, 2022
FIFA META Tactics alternative
Since then the 16-year-old has claimed to have found a new META tactic in the game with an unusual formation.
The Formation
This time William has set his team up in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation.
Centre Backs
It's the default option again for your centre backs meaning that they'll shore up the defence when your team is on the attack.
Left Back
Select his run type to overlap and it's default setting for all other options.
Right Back
Instruct his opposite counterpart to stay back whilst the team is attacking and to have overlapping runs. It's default for the rest.
Defensive Midfielder
To shield the defence, instruct your midfielder to stay back whilst attacking and to cover the centre whilst defending. The rest are all default.
Right Central Midfielder
It's simple for this side of the attack as it is all default instructions.
Left Central Midfielder
For the opposite side, your player should be instructed to get into the box for crosses and it's default for all other options.
Attacking Midfielder
For the top of the midfield diamond, he has to stay forward whilst your team is defending and all other instructions are default.
Right Striker
For the right side of the strike force it is all default instructions.
Left Striker
Instruct your striker to get in behind on attacking runs and the rest are all default.
FIFA 23 Meta Tactics
To make this formation the most effective select the following.
For defence, the defensive style is to press after possession loss with the width at 47 and depth is 65.
For offence, the build up play is selected as balanced with chance creation through direct passing. The attacking width is 45 with 5 players in the box.
Both corners and free kicks have the lowest option selected.
My 4-1-2-1-2 (2) custom tactics. This is what I believe is the META so far alongside the 5-1-2-2 in FIFA 23. Give it a go and let me know what you think.#fifa #fifa23 pic.twitter.com/1xCxy7IRHF
— CareyFIFA (@William_Carey9) October 1, 2022
FIFA 23 was released on September the 30th on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia. We have our own guide to our favourite tactics in the game if you want to try out some different tactics.