FIFA is kicking off a bold new chapter in mobile gaming with FIFA Rivals, a fresh take on football designed for short sessions, fast action, and digital ownership. Co-developed by Mythical Games — the studio behind the hit mobile title NFL Rivals — and Bacon Studio, FIFA Rivals offers a fun, fast-paced experience that’s built for mobile-first players. With a global launch set for June 2025 and early access already live in select regions, here’s everything we know so far.
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What Is FIFA Rivals?
FIFA Rivals isn’t trying to replicate the ultra-realistic simulation gameplay of FIFA Mobile or the console series. Instead, it takes a more arcade-style approach — offering short, action-packed matches with power-ups, simplified controls, and strategic decision-making.
Matches last just 1 minute and 30 seconds, giving players a quick but competitive experience. Rather than continuous real-time play, the game is broken into short bursts of action. After major moments like a pass or kickoff, the game briefly pauses, letting you make key decisions — pass, dribble, shoot, or call for a teammate’s run — before play resumes.
Whether you’re attacking or defending, your inputs come from intuitive mobile controls: tap, swipe, and drag to issue commands quickly and smoothly. The game is designed to feel responsive without overwhelming you with buttons or complex tactics.
Super Mode: A Game-Changing Mechanic
One of the standout features in FIFA Rivals is Super Mode. As you play, your Super Mode meter builds up. Once it’s full, you can activate it to give one of your players a temporary stat boost and a powerful animation — like a striker bursting through defenders with a fiery aura, or a defender shutting down an oncoming attack with extra strength and speed.
Super Mode adds a layer of strategy to every match, especially as you climb the competitive ranks. Knowing when to activate it — and how to counter your opponent’s Super Mode — can be the difference between a win and a loss.
Build Your Dream Squad with Collectible Cards
FIFA Rivals features a deep team-building system centered around collectible player cards. These cards come in five rarities:
- Common
- Rare
- Epic
- Legendary
- Mythical
Each card affects your squad’s power and gameplay performance. You can level up cards by fusing duplicates or using in-game currency, improving their stats and helping you compete at higher levels.
Cards are obtained through packs, which you can earn by winning matches, completing daily challenges, or ranking up in competitive play. Opening packs and chasing rare players adds a collectible, gacha-style loop that keeps the experience fresh.
Customization and Cosmetic Flair
Beyond the gameplay, FIFA Rivals also lets players add a bit of flair. You’ll be able to unlock and equip:
- Unique goal animations
- Custom player kits
- In-game emojis
- Cheeky taunts
These cosmetic touches give each match a bit of personality, whether you’re climbing the leaderboard or just showing off your latest drip.
Web3 Integration: Optional but Powerful
FIFA Rivals is being built on the Mythos blockchain, the same platform used for NFL Rivals. While the full Web3 feature set hasn’t been revealed yet, here’s what we know:
- Player cards may double as NFTs, allowing for true digital ownership
- These cards can be traded, upgraded, and possibly sold via the Mythical Marketplace
- Blockchain features will remain optional and hidden for casual players, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone
In short, if you’re just here for the football, you won’t even notice the Web3 side. But if you’re into collecting and trading, the backend infrastructure is already in place.
Final Thoughts: A Fresh Take on Football for Mobile Players
FIFA Rivals isn’t trying to compete with FIFA Mobile or the full console experience — it’s carving out its own lane. With short, strategic matches, fun collectible systems, and optional digital ownership, it’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting mobile football games of 2025.
If you’re looking for something more casual, quicker, and loaded with strategy (and a bit of chaos), keep your eye on FIFA Rivals when it launches globally in June 2025.
