3-4-3 Formation

Updated

The 3-4-3 soccer formation uses three center backs, four midfielders and three forwards. The midfield four is two wing-backs and two central midfielders; the front three is a striker with a wide forward on each side. It's one of the most attacking shapes, built to press high, but it leaves only two players in central midfield.

On this page
  1. What is a 3-4-3 formation?
  2. 3-4-3 positions and roles
  3. How the 3-4-3 attacks
  4. How the 3-4-3 defends
  5. 3-4-3 strengths and weaknesses
  6. 3-4-3 variations
  7. Who plays the 3-4-3: a short history
  8. 3-4-3 vs other formations
  9. Using the 3-4-3 in youth soccer

What is a 3-4-3 formation?

Formation numbers count field players from the back and leave out the goalkeeper. A 3 4 3 has three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards. Our soccer formations guide compares it with every other common shape.

11v11 3-4-3 formation: a goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards (GK / LCB CB RCB / LWB LCM RCM RWB / LW ST RW)
11v11 3-4-3

Two ideas make the 3-4-3 work. The wing-backs give the team its width, so the two wide forwards can play closer to goal. And with five players across the front (three forwards plus two wing-backs), the other team's defense is stretched from sideline to sideline.

3-4-3 positions and roles

The diagram uses the same labels as our lineup maker and planner, which name each spot by where it stands. LCB and RCB are the outside center backs, LWB and RWB the wing-backs, and LCM and RCM the two central midfielders.

Positions in the 3-4-3 formation
PositionJob and key qualities
GKGoalkeeper. Stops shots, covers the space behind a high back line and starts attacks with short passes.
Key qualities: quick off the line, calm with the ball at feet
LCB, RCBLeft and right center backs. Defend the channels and cover behind the wing-backs. Carry the ball into midfield when nobody presses them.
Key qualities: speed, 1v1 defending, passing
CBMiddle center back. Marks the striker, organizes the line and covers either side.
Key qualities: reading the game, communication
LWB, RWBWing-backs. Own the whole sideline: overlap and cross in attack, then drop back to make a back five.
Key qualities: stamina, speed, crossing
LCM, RCMCentral midfielders. Work as a pair: one stays to protect the back three while the other supports the attack. Win the ball back and switch play.
Key qualities: fitness, passing range, discipline
LW, RWWide forwards. Start wide, then move inside into the gaps between defenders. Press the other team's outside defenders.
Key qualities: dribbling, shooting, work rate
STStriker. Leads the press, holds the ball up and finishes chances.
Key qualities: finishing, strength, movement

How the 3-4-3 attacks

  • A front five. With the ball, the wing-backs push up next to the forwards. Five attackers against a back four means someone is always free.
  • Wide forwards move inside. Because the wing-backs hold the width, the wide forwards can drift into the spaces between the other team's full-backs and center backs.
  • Win it high. Three forwards can press the other team's back line and keeper together, so turnovers happen close to goal.
  • Overlaps and crosses. When a wide forward cuts inside, the wing-back runs past on the outside. Crosses find the striker and the far-side wide forward.
  • Center backs step up. If the other team plays one striker, an outside center back can carry the ball forward and add a passer to midfield.

How the 3-4-3 defends

  • Press first. The front three cut off passes between the other team's defenders, and the central midfielders squeeze up behind them.
  • Drop into a back five. If the press is beaten, the wing-backs retreat next to the center backs, and the wide forwards drop back to help the two central midfielders.
  • Protect the middle. With only two central midfielders, one should always stay between the ball and the back three.
  • Slide together. The back three shift as a unit toward the ball, with the far wing-back tucking in.

3-4-3 strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

  • Lots of players in attack: up to five across the front line.
  • A strong high press with three forwards.
  • A spare center back against one- or two-striker teams.
  • Width on both sides without asking forwards to hug the sideline.

Weaknesses

  • Only two central midfielders, so a midfield three (4-3-3, 3-5-2, 4-5-1) can outnumber them.
  • Big spaces behind the wing-backs when they're caught upfield.
  • If the press is beaten, the other team can counterattack into a three-player back line.
  • It's very demanding physically, especially for wing-backs and central midfielders.

3-4-3 variations

Two related shapes keep most of the 3-4-3's ideas and fix one of its weak spots.

11v11 3-5-2 formation: a goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 5 midfielders and 2 forwards (GK / LCB CB RCB / LWB LCM DM RCM RWB / LF RF)
11v11 3-5-2
11v11 4-3-3 formation: a goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards (GK / LB CB CB RB / LCM CM RCM / LW ST RW)
11v11 4-3-3
  • 3-5-2: drop one forward into central midfield. You get three in the middle instead of two and keep a strike pair. See the 3-5-2 formation guide.
  • 4-3-3: keep the front three but switch to a back four and a midfield three. Full-backs replace wing-backs, so there's less running on the sidelines. See the 4-3-3 formation guide.

Who plays the 3-4-3: a short history

The Premier League's tactics series says the 3-4-3 is thought to have first been used in Italy, where back threes were already common in the 3-5-2. It also points to Johan Cruyff's Barcelona, which set up in a 4-3-3 but often became a 3-4-3 when a center back stepped into midfield (Premier League: the 3-4-3 explained).

Its best-known Premier League season is Chelsea's 2016/17. After September defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal, Antonio Conte switched to a back three, a move UEFA calls a clear turning point. Chelsea won 13 league games in a row and took the title in Conte's first season (UEFA on Chelsea's 2016/17 title). Wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses gave the team its width, with Eden Hazard and Pedro as inside forwards.

Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and Tottenham, Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea and Gareth Southgate with England have also used versions of it.

3-4-3 vs other formations

These are general patterns, not rules. Watch how the other team actually lines up and adjust.

How the 3-4-3 matches up (general guidance)
AgainstWhat usually happensWhat to try
4-4-2Your back three has a spare player against their two strikers, and your front three plus wing-backs stretch their back four.Use the spare center back to carry the ball. Their wide midfielders will target the space behind your wing-backs.
4-3-3Their midfield three outnumbers your two, and their front three matches your back three.Have a wide forward drop into midfield when defending, or switch to a 3-5-2.
4-2-3-1Their attacking midfielder sits between your two central midfielders and your back three.Keep one central midfielder at home, or let the middle center back step up to that player.
3-5-2Their five midfielders outnumber your four, but your front three matches their back three.Go direct to the forwards early, before their midfield takes control.
5-3-2A deep, packed defense with five at the back.Be patient: switch play quickly and get the wing-backs high to stretch the back five.

Using the 3-4-3 in youth soccer

The 3-4-3 needs a full 11v11 game, so it's for U13 and older teams; US Soccer's small-sided standards keep U11 and U12 in 9v9. If your players used a 3-2-3 in 9v9 formations, they already know the back three and front three; the 3-4-3 adds wing-backs.

  • Teach pressing as a group. One forward chasing alone just gets beaten. Three forwards pressing together, with midfield support, wins the ball.
  • Rotate the running roles. Wing-backs and central midfielders cover the most ground. Short shifts keep them sharp.
  • Rotate positions across the season. Time at center back, wing-back, midfield and forward builds players who understand the whole shape. The planner's Rotate positions (development) setting spreads positions across each game, and our youth soccer positions guide explains how to do it fairly.

Sub plan for a 3-4-3

This example is a U17–U19 team with a full roster of 18. Two 45-minute halves is the 17U–19U game length in US Youth Soccer's national championship rules and AYSO's maximum for U17–U19. A sub every 9 minutes gives ten windows with seven players resting each time, and each goalkeeper plays one half in goal. Sixteen players get 54 minutes and two get 63. With that many on the bench, every forward and wing-back gets regular rests, which suits a pressing shape.

Each player
54:00–63:00
Max difference
9:00
On the bench
7 at a time
Sub every
9:00 (10)
Who plays where in each sub window
Player1st half2nd halfTotal
0:009:0018:0027:0036:000:009:0018:0027:0036:00
4AvaLCB–RCBRCB–CBCB–LCB–54:0060%
1BenGKGKGKGKGK––RCMRCM–63:0070%
9CarlosRWRW–LWLW–LW–LW–54:0060%
7DiyaLW–LW–RWRW–CB–LWB54:0060%
3EliCB–LCB–RCB–RWBRWB–LCB54:0060%
10Fatima–LW–RCMRCM–RWRWRW–54:0060%
5Gabe–LCMLCMLCM–LWB–ST–LW54:0060%
12Hana––RCM––GKGKGKGKGK54:0060%
8Isaac–RWBRWB–RWB–LCM–LCMLCM54:0060%
11JadaRCMRCM–ST–LW–LCM–RW54:0060%
13KaiRWB–ST–LCMLCM–LCB–ST54:0060%
14Lena–LCB–LWBLWB–LWBLWBLWB–54:0060%
15MateoLWBLWB–RWB–RCMRCM–RWBRWB63:0070%
16NoraST–RW–STST–LW–RCB54:0060%
17Omar–CBCBCB–RWB–RCB–RCM54:0060%
18Priya–ST–LCBLCBLCBLCB–RCB–54:0060%
19QuinnLCM–LWB–CB–ST–CBCB54:0060%
20RosaRCBRCB–RW–RCBRCB–ST–54:0060%

GKGoalkeeper DDefense MMidfield FAttack –Bench

If your competition allows only four substitution moments per match plus halftime (US Youth Soccer's national championship rule for 15U–19U), sub at 15, 30, 60 and 75 minutes instead, or enter your own windows with the planner's Custom times option.

Plan fair 3-4-3 subs with your own roster

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Need a team sheet? Build a 3-4-3 lineup with your players' names and print it or save it as a PDF.