FIFA Rivals Guide: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

FIFA Rivals is officially live in select regions as part of its early access rollout. Built by Mythical Games in partnership with FIFA and Bacon Studio, the game takes a different approach from traditional football sims. It’s designed for quick, arcade-style matches that are easy to pick up and hard to put down.

Getting Started 

If you pre-registered and your region was selected, FIFA Rivals is now available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Simply download the app and jump into the action. For everyone else, the game is currently in pre-release, with a full launch expected to come in a few weeks. 

How to Play the Game 

FIFA Rivals revolves around fast-paced 1v1 matches where decision-making, timing, and smart player movement are more important than memorizing complex controls. Before we get into collecting cards and strengthening your squad, let’s walk through how a typical match works.

Match Mechanics and Controls

FIFA Rivals is built for mobile, and the entire game is played in portrait mode. While that means the field of vision is a bit narrower than what you might expect from traditional football games, it’s balanced by intuitive camera tracking (touch an area away from play and drag to move the camera) and easy-to-learn controls.

Each match lasts 1 minute and 30 seconds of real time, with no added stoppage. The game kicks off like any standard match, but after the first pass, it pauses briefly for up to 5 seconds (but will be shorter if both players have already input their moves). This short break lets both players plan their opening strategy in real time before the play resumes.

Here’s how controls work depending on whether you’re attacking or defending:

When on Offense:

• Pass: Swipe from the ball carrier to a teammate.
• Dribble: Tap on an empty spot on the field to move your player there.
• Lob/Cross: Tap and swipe the off-ball teammate in the direction (usually higher and with a curve) you want them to move for a lob or cross setup.
• Shoot: Swipe from your player toward the goal to take a shot.

When on Defense:

• Pressure: Tap once on a defender to pressure the opponent’s ball carrier.
• Tackle: Tap twice on a nearby defender to perform a sliding tackle.
• Steal/Anticipate: Drag a defender manually to intercept a pass or cut off a lane.

The controls are snappy and don’t require button combinations or manual sprinting—everything revolves around clean timing and reading your opponent’s moves.

One of FIFA Rivals’ key mechanics is Super Mode. As the match progresses, both players slowly build up their Super Mode meter. Once it’s full, you can activate it by pressing the Super Mode button.

This gives your player/s a temporary stat boost and a fiery animation, like a striker bursting through defenders with added speed and strength, or a defender locking down a dangerous play. Used at the right moment, Super Mode can shift the entire momentum of a match, like securing a goal or stopping a dangerous lob. 

You win a match in FIFA Rivals by either scoring 2 goals before your opponent or having a 1–0 lead when the 90-second timer runs out. If the score is tied at full time, the game proceeds to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

Player Cards and Team Building

Every player on your team is represented by a player card. These cards are the heart of the game’s progression and collectible system. You can earn them by opening packs, which are available through gameplay, events, or the in-game shop.

Each card includes:

• A rarity tier, which affects base stats and upgrade potential
• Core stats such as shooting, pace, and defense
• A contract, meaning the card can only be used in a set number of matches before needing to be renewed

Higher-rarity cards often feature more recognizable players, stronger base stats, and greater long-term value. Duplicates aren’t wasted either—they can be used to level up and improve cards you already own.

As you progress, you’ll also unlock tactical options like formations and set-piece customization. You can assign specific players to take free kicks, penalties, and corners, allowing for more control over your match strategy. Managing your team involves making smart decisions about which players to use, when to rotate your lineup, and how to allocate upgrades. It’s a constant balance between power, contracts, and future planning.

Currencies: Gems and Cash

There are two main currencies in FIFA Rivals:

• Gems (premium): Used to buy packs, participate and kip pack opening timers
• Cash (standard): Used for leveling up cards and renewing contracts
  

Both currencies can be earned by playing matches, climbing leaderboards, completing missions, and participating in events. While you can spend real money to buy more Gems, the game gives you steady ways to earn both through regular play.

Progression, Leaderboards, and Rewards

FIFA Rivals features a ranking system where you climb the league by consistently winning matches. Each victory earns you points, helping you move into higher tiers where the competition becomes tougher—but the rewards get better too.

As you progress, you’ll unlock daily and seasonal rewards that often include player packs, upgrade materials, in-game currencies like gems and cash, and potentially even exclusive cards or cosmetics in future updates.

Web3 Features

FIFA Rivals hasn’t fully revealed its Web3 features yet, but since it runs on the Mythos blockchain, the same system used in NFL Rivals, it’s likely to follow a similar model. In NFL Rivals, player cards double as NFTs that can be owned, traded, and upgraded through the Mythical Marketplace, and FIFA Rivals is expected to offer “collectible football cards, featuring officially licensed football stars across varying rarities like Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical.

These cards not only serve as digital collectibles but also influence gameplay stats, making rare pulls valuable both competitively and cosmetically. The blockchain layer remains optional and hidden from casual players, ensuring a seamless experience for anyone just looking to play. For those who want to dive into ownership and trading, the Web3 systems are already built into the backend, making FIFA Rivals approachable for all types of players.

Gameplay Tips and Tricks

• Use lower-tier players in easier matches to conserve contracts on your top cards. Since each player card has a limited number of matches before requiring renewal, it’s smart to save your rarest and strongest players for more competitive games. This helps you stretch your resources and avoid burning through contract extensions too quickly.

• Super Mode can make or break a match. As the game progresses, both players slowly fill their Super Mode meters. There are windows where your Super Mode is ready, but your opponent’s isn’t—this is your best opportunity to secure a goal, especially if you're near the box or on a breakaway. On the other hand, using Super Mode defensively can completely shut down an opposing striker or disrupt a scoring attempt. Timing your Super Mode to gain an edge—or to cancel out your opponent’s—is often what decides tight games.

• Learn how to execute through-ball passes. These are especially powerful if you have quick forwards with strong finishing stats. To do it right, you’ll need to make your forward start running toward the goal (by tapping and swiping their icon) and then pass into the space they’re moving into—not where they were. It takes some practice to avoid offside calls, but once mastered, it becomes a consistent way to break through defenses and create goal-scoring chances.

• Experiment with curved shots. FIFA Rivals allows you to pull off ridiculous curved shots, especially during free kicks or while in Super Mode. Even during normal play, curved passes and shots can confuse defenders and goalkeepers. It’s a more advanced mechanic, but well worth practicing if you want to elevate your scoring options.

• Be smart with your gems. Gems are the premium currency, and while you’ll earn some from gameplay, they’re limited. Save them for guaranteed high-rarity packs or major events. Also, keep in mind that you only have a limited number of pack slots. If those are full and you complete a mission that rewards a valuable pack, you’ll need to spend gems to clear other packs and avoid losing it.

• Pay attention to your team formations and player combinations. Some formations suit certain playstyles better, and specific player synergies can give you small but noticeable advantages in matches. As you unlock more tactical options, try different setups to find what works best for your squad.

• Accept that there’s some pay-to-win influence. Higher rarity cards have better base stats and higher upgrade ceilings, which means players who spend money will have stronger lineups—more reliable defenders, faster attackers, and goalkeepers that are harder to beat. Sometimes it’ll feel like your safe pass still gets intercepted, or your shot can’t get past a top-tier keeper. That’s part of the experience. But don’t get discouraged. The matchmaking system does a decent job of pairing you with players around your power level, so you can still progress and enjoy competitive matches even without spending.

Final Whistle Thoughts

FIFA Rivals doesn’t ask for much—just 90 seconds of your time. Then another. And another. With its fast-paced match format, collectible card system, and light Web3 integration, it hooks you before you even realize it. One moment you’re testing your first squad, the next you’ve opened ten packs, pulled your favorite striker, activated Super Mode like a boss, and somehow ended up in the top 100… all during your coffee break. Or... maybe you whiffed all your chase cards, ran into a whale with a fully upgraded squad, and rage-quit mid-slide tackle. We've all been there.

Whether you’re here to build your dream team or just chasing that one perfect match, FIFA Rivals makes it hard to put down. So clear some space on your phone—and maybe your schedule—because once the global launch hits, it’s game on.