FIFA 23's latest update has landed, and most players seem to be in agreement that it is a good one. The Qatar 2022 World Cup Update is now live for everyone but Switch players, and it comes with some big improvements to FIFA. From a sleek new menu design to more Ultimate Team Cards, this update has it all.
Avid football fans will likely remember FIFA 14's World Cup mode, which included a standalone version of Ultimate Team. This isn't the case this time around, but that's not to say that there aren't still some interesting additions FIFA 23's free World Cup mode DLC.
1 Improvement On Graphics
Included in the FIFA 23 update is a sleek new menu design featuring a maroon color to match the scheme of the Qatar World Cup graphics. Along with the new menus is a confetti theme in the background that matches the color of the player's chosen team.
Before each game is a lovely animation of fans cheering and supporting the team as they prepare for World Cup glory. It all adds to the immersion of the game and helps players to further experience the FIFA World Cup journey.
2 Separate World Cup Mode
The World Cup Mode comes as a separate game section in the menu, making it much easier for players to find the update and take their nation to the final. Thanks to that maroon color, it stands out in comparison to the black/gray color scheme of the standard game.
Back in 2014, the World Cup mode wasn't as easily accessible in the menu and so this is a big improvement. Inside the add-on, there are live tournament, tournament, and custom tournament modes so players can choose how they want to play.
3 Great New Soundtrack
One of the best features of FIFA 23's World Cup mode is the new soundtrack, which features 100 of the best FIFA songs from past editions of the game. To say that there are some absolute bangers available would perhaps be a bit of an understatement.
Kasabian's Club Foot, Smallpools' Dreaming, and MGMT's Kids are just some of the many classic tracks that have been added. Gamers can listen to songs and select the ones they want from the menu of the World Cup mode, but the soundtrack is also available on Spotify for those who want to listen on the go.
4 Career Mode Feel To The Tournament Mode
The gameplay of the World Cup mode is just like regular FIFA, and the tournaments definitely have a bit of a career mode feel to them. The simulation introduced in FIFA 21 is included within the DLC, as too are FIFA 22's excellent playable highlights.
Having these career mode features in the World Cup Mode is an excellent choice, as it feels more like a journey in the World Cup mode save. As players win games and advance through the tournament, trying different players and formations can really help to keep things feeling fresh.
5 Updated Ratings and Positions
Similar to how FIFA 14's World Cup Ultimate Team had players with updated positions and ratings, FIFA 22 continues this trend. Using England as an example, Trent Alexander-Arnold is still a right back but has been downgraded from 87 to 84 and Bukaya Saka has switched from right midfield to a left-winger and has been downgraded to an 81.
These changes apply to every national team in the update, and they reflect how each player plays for their national team. As a result, it further adds to the realism and immersion that's on offer in FIFA 23's World Cup mode and demonstrates the attention to detail that went into its creation.
6 More Ultimate Team Content
Unlike 2014's version of the World Cup Mode, there isn't a separate Ultimate Team mode. Instead, every card that comes from the back of the tournament will be available in the standard version of FIFA 23 Ultimate Team. This means that players will have more Ultimate Team cards than ever before.
The Path To Glory cards make a return, with select players receiving cards that get upgraded through their teams advancing into each round of the World Cup in Qatar. Also included with the World Cup mode are FUT Heroes in collaboration with Marvel and players will receive one for free if they preordered the Ultimate Edition of the game.
7 Updated Kits and Stadiums
To match the real-life World Cup, the international teams in the game have all had their kits updated. England, Spain, and the Netherlands will have their new kits in-game in the tournament. This lovely Germany kit is a standout from the bunch.
Qatar's World Cup stadiums have also been added to the update, along with the balls, referees, outfits, and so much more. Having all the authentic aesthetics adds to the immersion and makes the World Cup feel alive within the game.
8 Ultimate Team Cards Will Still Be Used After the Tournament Finishes
Despite the World Cup ending in December, Ultimate Team does not end until the next edition of the game is released. This means that players can continue to use their Ultimate Team cards until the servers for the game are shut down.
This is an improvement on FIFA 14's World Cup mode as the cards unlocked in the game mode were not compatible with the regular Ultimate Team. The mode from eight years ago did not have as many special cards as Ultimate Team does today either, showing just how far the game has come since then.
9 Nations That Haven't Qualified Can Still Be Used In the Update
Even if a player's nation was not lucky enough to qualify for the finals in Qatar, they can still use them in the update through the 'custom tournament' feature. Granted, it's a little unrealistic, but it ensures that football fans aren't forced to betray their nations by selecting another country if they don't want to.
Norway, Scotland, and Italy can compete for World Cup glory once again and that means a certain Erling Haaland can potentially lift the World Cup in FIFA 23. The World Cup mode allows gamers to play the game in the way they would like and developers providing players with more customization options is always a plus.
10 Brazil Are Back
Arguably one of the best improvements in the World Cup mode is fan favorite Brazil is once again back in the game. In FIFA 23, the Brazil National Team was in the game but with generic players with no faces, replacing the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Vinicius Jr.
This changes in the World Cup mode as Brazil are back and fully licensed. It also includes the return of football icon Dani Alves who was not in FIFA 23 up until this point, as he now plays in the Mexican Liga MX, which isn't in the base version of the game. He may not be as highly rated as he used to be, but he's still an excellent passer of the ball.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.