FIFA Mobile
A guide for families with key information about ‘FIFA Mobile’, including the age rating, key terminology, risks and instructions for enabling parental controls and safety settings.
FIFA Mobile (rebranding to EA Sports FC Mobile) is a free online competitive football game where users can create their own professional football teams made up of their favourite football players. Whilst the paid-for version of the game FIFA 22 is available on a range of gaming devices, such as Xbox and Playstation, and the EA Sports app for Windows, this app guide will focus on the FIFA Mobile app.
Within the app, players can create and manage their own fantasy football team, made up of their chosen football players. Through playing and winning matches and tournaments, a user’s team can then access better players and develop within a league. Players can compete in player-versus-player modes, where they can play with other players on the platform, as well as ‘Manager mode’, where users can choose strategic tactics for their team to progress within the game. FIFA Mobile is available to download on Android and iOS devices.
Official age rating
The Apple App Store rates FIFA Mobile as 4+ whilst Google Play give it a ‘Everyone’ rating. The app does not have any vigorous age verification methods.
Find out more about age ratings in our ‘A parent and carer’s guide to age ratings of apps and games’.
How children and young people use the app
FIFA Mobile is a popular mobile game, especially with young football fans and those who already enjoy playing the paid-for versions of the game. The app allows players to explore creating their own dream teams made up of their favourite players as well as playing an online game of football. The ‘Manager mode’ also allows players to make decisions around tactics to win tournaments and play online football from a different perspective. The competitiveness of the game appeals to young people, as the more games and tournaments they win, the more likely they are to collect better players and upgrade their team within a league.
Key features and terminology
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Where users can edit their team by swapping players, training them and changing their playing formation.
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A mode where users can create an unranked friendly match either against a computer, or against other players on the platform.
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This is a quick ninety second match that is played in real time against an opponent. The aim is to score as many goals as possible in the allotted time. Players are matched with other online opponents with a similar fan count.
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This is a competitive mode of gameplay where users can play head-to-head offering short, medium and long-term objectives with rewards.
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This mode allows users to manage their own team, choosing their own tactics and strategies to help develop the gameplay of their team.
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Seasonal events which coincide with real-world sporting events in real time.
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This section keeps users updated on new updates and events within the app.
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Daily activities that users can complete to earn rewards within the game.
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These are the in-game currency which users can earn and use to purchase FIFA packs within the game.
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These are virtual in-game packs that contain random content. These are sometimes referred to as ‘loot boxes’ as players do not know what is in them until they have been purchased or earnt. Packs can be earnt or purchased using FIFA coins or using real currency.
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Users can join or create their own leagues to play against other players on the platform.
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This is where users can buy and sell the players within their team.
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When users can exchange their players for better items such as icon players or FIFA coins.
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Here users can buy and redeem different items such as packs, bundles and special bundles. Purchases can be made using FIFA coins or real currency.
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This is where players can receive messages.
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Users can find and add friends within the game by using the ‘Friends’ icon. Players can search for known friends using their username or the game will suggest ‘Recommended users’ based on account data and statistics, such as fan numbers.
Potential risks
Content
FIFA Mobile has a low age rating, reflecting that this game should be suitable for players of all ages. The game’s content has been designed to best reflect real football matches, with gameplay footage, commentary, chants and player calls all mimicking what you would expect when watching a live football match. Whilst your child is unlikely to encounter harmful content within the game itself, the in-game chat function is where players may come across inappropriate content in the form of bad language. However, the ‘League chat’ function is not automatically available to all players, but instead activated once higher levels have been reached. When your child is able to access the chat function, speak to them about the risks involved in gaming chat, especially in competitive gameplay such as FIFA Mobile. Ensure your child knows to talk to you if they encounter anything inappropriate within chat, and to use the mute, report and block functions if necessary. For information on how to do this, go to the ‘Reporting and blocking’ section of this guide. By limiting who your child can access on the platform, such as forming a league with known friends, your child is less likely to experience language or behaviour that is not suitable for their age. However, it should be acknowledged that your child may still be exposed to inappropriate content by their known contacts.
Connecting with others
One of the appealing features of FIFA Mobile is the ability to play competitive football against other players. The game allows for multiplayer gameplay via ‘VS Attack’ or ‘Head-to-head’ modes, where users can play against their friends or match against other players on the platform. It is recommended that younger users play against known friends, by adding them as ‘Friends’ on their account. There is also the option to link accounts with a user’s Facebook account, allowing them to play with Facebook friends. Full details on how to manage this can be found in the ‘Managing interactions and content’ section of this guide.
For users who like to play against matched opponents, it is worth knowing that friend requests can be sent to unknown opponents in the post-match summary screen. Once players are ‘Friends’ within the game, they can easily arrange to play against one another and join leagues together, where there is a real-time text chat function. A shared interest in the game can make it easy for strangers to build a connection with one another, especially when it relates to something players are passionate about like favourite football teams and players. Speak to your child about the risks of chatting with strangers and explain the importance of not sharing any personal or identifiable information with other players within chats. Encourage them to tell you if they have been asked more personal questions or feel upset or uncomfortable by anything shared within the chat.
It is also worth noting that some gamers use third party apps like Discord to chat while gaming. Ask your child if they are using any additional apps while playing and check who they are communicating with. It may be helpful to know that although chatting is an appealing part of gaming, it is not essential to play.
User behaviour
FIFA Mobile has its own code of conduct, which all players must adhere to in order to play, as part of EA Games. Players who deviate from the expected behaviour risk being removed from the platform by EA. Speak to your child about what is appropriate behaviour when playing a multiplayer game and ensure they know how to report cheating or inappropriate behaviour. Younger players who are using the chat feature should also be aware of what is and is not appropriate for them to post in chats. Discuss with them the various ways they can protect themselves by playing with known friends rather than matched games. Ensure your child knows it can be difficult to keep ownership of any content once it has been shared online, as content can easily be copied and reposted without their knowledge and can then become difficult to remove from the internet.
Design, data and costs
Like many other online games, FIFA Mobile is very compelling, filled with rewards and upgrades to encourage extended gameplay. The persuasive design of the app means players are offered endless rewards and bonuses for playing another match or developing team skills. For some players, it can be difficult to take time out from the app because of these compelling design features. Talk to your child about how apps and games are designed to keep users engaged. Some events require longer game play, meaning some players may struggle taking regular breaks from the app. Gameplay is centred around matches, and teams can be penalised for leaving a game early. It is recommended that you set gameplay boundaries based on the number of matches played rather than an allotted time, to avoid your child having to stop gameplay during a match.
One of the many rewards and purchases offered on the app are ‘FIFA Packs’. These are essentially ‘loot boxes’ which means players do not know what is in the pack until they have opened it. Whilst some packs are earnt during gameplay, others can be purchased using FIFA coins or real currency. The risk with ‘loot boxes’ is that it can expose players to a type of online gambling culture, where players spend without knowing what they are going to get. Talk to your child about the risks involved with spending on unknown items and in-game purchases more generally.
One of the key features of FIFA Mobile revolves around arranging a ‘dream team’ of the user’s favourite players. However, users on FIFA Mobile have been known to sell their accounts and teams for real money, though this is against EA Games’ code of conduct. It is advised that you speak with your child if they express an interest in buying a user account or selling their own. Particularly, you should explain to them that buying a user account is not only very expensive and a potential scam, but either buying or selling accounts can result in them being permanently banned or restricted from EA Games’ services in the future.
Tips for keeping your child safe
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There are no specific options to manage privacy on FIFA Mobile.
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There are limited options to manage interactions and content on FIFA Mobile. Players can add friends within the app and set up linked accounts. Players can also mute other players within their league if they send inappropriate messages within the ‘League chat’.
To add friends:
- Within the app, go to the ‘Friends’ menu and select ‘Add friend’.
- Select the ‘Search’ option and enter the friend’s ‘In game name’ into the box.
- Select ‘Continue’ and choose ‘Add friend’ to complete the process.
- Note: if there is more than one user with that name, view their OVR, level, division or league information to select the correct one.
To play against friends:
- Within the app, go to the ‘Friends’ menu and find the friend you wish to play against.
- If they are online, indicated by a green dot, select the ‘Match’ button.
- Choose the gaming mode you wish to play and wait for your friend to accept the match invite.
To manage linked accounts:
- Within the app, go to the settings menu and select ‘Link accounts’.
- Ensure the options are ‘Not linked’ for ‘Facebook’ or ‘Game centre’.
To mute league members:
- Go to your ‘League chat’ and find the member you wish to mute.
- Tap on their message and select the ‘Mute’ option.
- Note: you can unmute any player within ‘League settings’.
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Users can report and block other users who may be bothering them or behaving inappropriately on the platform.
To report a player or league:
- Within the app, select the blue speaker icon next to the username or league name.
- Select the reporting reason from the drop-down list.
- Add any additional information relevant to your report.
- Choose ‘Send’ to submit the report.
To block a user:
- Within the app, select the ‘Friends’ feature on the home page.
- Find the player you wish to block and select the three dots next to their name.
- Select ‘Block’ to complete the process.
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There are limited options to help manage time and purchases within the app. Disabling in-app purchases on the device itself will help manage purchases.
To turn off notifications:
- Within the app, select the settings icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Scroll to ‘Communications’ and select the pen icon next to it.
- Toggle off the ‘Direct notifications’ option.
To disable in-app purchases on iOS:
- Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Screen time’ and scroll down to ‘Content and privacy restrictions’.
- Select ‘iTunes and App Store purchases’ and set the option to ‘Don’t allow’.
To disable in-app purchases on Android:
- Go to your Google Play Store app.
- Select ‘Menu’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Require authentication for purchases’.
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Account deletion means your information will be permanently deleted and cannot be restored.
To delete your FIFA Mobile account:
- Go to the homepage and select the cogwheel icon at the top right corner of your screen.
- Scroll down to the bottom and select ‘Account Deletion’.
- Read the Terms and Conditions and select ‘Continue’.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions by selecting the checkbox and then choose ‘Delete’.
Additional tips
The FIFA franchise is well established, with new FIFA versions launched annually. Users should be aware that these new versions are essentially new games, so players cannot transfer purchases or progress made between versions.
FIFA Mobile publishes regular guides to help players understand and navigate the platform.
FIFA Mobile is currently rebranding to EA Sports FC Mobile and is due to launch as both an update to FIFA Mobile and as a new app on 26 September 2023.