Where is 4-2-3-1 the default?
Share of line-ups set out as 4-2-3-1 — the most common shape in football, and in some leagues close to the only one.
Serie A (Brazil) is the most uniform: 56.8% of its line-ups are 4-2-3-1.
| League | 4-2-3-1 | Line-ups |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serie A Brazil | 56.8% | 720 |
| 2. Eredivisie Netherlands | 55.5% | 616 |
| 3. Premier League England | 53.8% | 760 |
| 4. Championship England | 51.7% | 1,096 |
| 5. HNL Croatia | 50.9% | 322 |
| 6. Super Liga Serbia | 48.8% | 590 |
| 7. Premier Soccer League South Africa | 47.5% | 469 |
| 8. Süper Lig Türkiye | 46% | 609 |
| 9. CONMEBOL Sudamericana International | 44.8% | 290 |
| 10. Primera A Colombia | 44% | 884 |
| 11. First League Bulgaria | 43.9% | 387 |
| 12. Primeira Liga Portugal | 43.1% | 613 |
| 13. Super League 1 Greece | 40.9% | 472 |
| 14. Segunda División Spain | 40.8% | 931 |
| 15. Jupiler Pro League Belgium | 40.3% | 642 |
| 16. 1. Division Cyprus | 40.3% | 442 |
| 17. Ligat Ha'al Israel | 39.6% | 202 |
| 18. NB I Hungary | 39.2% | 204 |
| 19. FA Cup England | 39.2% | 217 |
| 20. Liga I Romania | 38.8% | 640 |
| 21. Serie B Brazil | 38.3% | 754 |
| 22. League One England | 37.9% | 1,088 |
| 23. Eerste Divisie Netherlands | 37.8% | 760 |
| 24. UEFA Champions League International | 37.7% | 554 |
| 25. UEFA Europa League International | 37.6% | 529 |
| 26. La Liga Spain | 37% | 756 |
| 27. 1. Lig Türkiye | 36.8% | 750 |
| 28. Czech Liga Czechia | 36.2% | 556 |
| 29. Challenger Pro League Belgium | 35.5% | 383 |
| 30. NWSL Women United States | 35.4% | 378 |
| 31. Premier League Egypt | 35.3% | 626 |
| 32. CONMEBOL Libertadores International | 35% | 274 |
| 33. Liga Profesional Argentina Argentina | 35% | 978 |
| 34. Major League Soccer United States | 34.4% | 1,080 |
| 35. Paulista - A1 Brazil | 34.1% | 208 |
| 36. Liga MX Mexico | 33.7% | 673 |
| 37. Premier League Russia | 33.4% | 488 |
| 38. Segunda Liga Portugal | 31.8% | 399 |
| 39. Premiership Scotland | 31.7% | 464 |
| 40. First League Russia | 30.8% | 383 |
Showing every competition. Major competitions only
Exact formation as recorded.