The release of FIFA 23 has also coincided with the sport’s first ever winter World Cup. The FIFA 2022 World Cup kicks-off in Qatar this month, bringing together the world’s best 32 international teams on this Middle Eastern peninsula. FIFA 23 players will be delighted to hear there is a dedicated World Cup mode, designed to build the hype surrounding Qatar 2022.
It’s certainly a tournament of firsts. Not only is it the first winter World Cup, it’s also the first time the Middle East has played host to the competition. The Qataris are by no means renowned for their football tradition – shock horror – and despite the optimism for their national team they are hotly tipped to be one of the tournament’s underperformers. They are rank outsiders to qualify out of Group A, priced at +350 with DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the top-rated site at OddsChecker for soccer fans wanting a new place to wager during Qatar 2022.
Why should we be getting excited for the FIFA 23 World Cup mode?
In iterations gone by, FIFA’s World Cup modes have been something of a damp squib. They’ve added very little longevity and felt like gimmicky downloadable content. This year, the feeling is that the FIFA 23 team have invested much more time and energy and sought to take full advantage of the 2022 World Cup’s arrival just weeks after FIFA 23’s launch.
There will be two 2022 World Cup modes available, one for offline play and one within the FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) product. That’s different to FIFA 14 and FIFA 18, when EA Sports decided to create add-ons solely for FUT.
The add-on – which will be free to download when available – will feature all 32 international teams, as well as fully branded stadiums, kits and players named in the competition. The FUT add-on is likely to enable Ultimate Team players to build their own rosters from all 32 FIFA 2022 World Cup squads.
Reports also suggest that the 2022 World Cup mode will be left available for the remainder of FIFA 23’s game cycle, allowing players to enjoy the World Cup teams and World Cup-themed FUT competitions for many months after its conclusion.
Both the offline and FUT modes feature ICONS and unique Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) to offer a more immersive FIFA 22 World Cup gaming experience. We’re also expecting six Marvel ‘Heroes’ cards introduced into FUT, based on some of the cult names in the modern-day football era.
The FIFA 23 World Cup mode was released into the ether on November 9, so what are you waiting for? Get your World Cup fix before a ball has even been kicked in anger in the Middle East.
