Where does 4-4-2 survive?
Share of line-ups still set out as 4-4-2 — a shape that has halved across the majors since 2016.
J1 League (Japan) keeps the faith: 20% of its line-ups are still 4-4-2.
| League | 4-4-2 | Line-ups |
|---|---|---|
| 1. J1 League Japan | 20% | 380 |
| 2. Major League Soccer United States | 17.4% | 259 |
| 3. Liga Profesional Argentina Argentina | 13.7% | 234 |
| 4. UEFA Champions League International | 8.4% | 203 |
| 5. UEFA Europa Conference League International | 5.8% | 450 |
| 6. Serie B Brazil | 3.3% | 215 |
Showing every competition. Major competitions only
Exact formation as recorded. Variants such as 4-4-1-1 count separately.