FIFA 22 was the last football title to ship under the FIFA name before EA’s licensing split with the federation. EA delisted the game from digital storefronts in 2023 and removed it from EA Play in mid-2024, leaving owners with a complete but increasingly orphaned experience. Players who still load it up regularly are starting to look at what comes next, and so are players who want a fresh football fix that the FIFA name no longer occupies. We spent weeks across the current football game catalog to land the seven FIFA 22 alternatives for desktop that hold up in 2026.
We weighted three things: a real football simulation feel, an active online community for Ultimate Team-style modes or career play, and either current rosters or deep customization. Some on this list are the direct EA successor titles, others come from Konami and indie publishers chasing the same audience.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Where to buy | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA Sports FC 26 | Current EA football | $69.99 | Steam | Newest rosters and Ultimate Team |
| EA Sports FC 25 | Previous-year EA | $59.99 | Steam | Lower price, similar gameplay |
| eFootball 2024 | Free football | Free | Steam | Free-to-play with Dream Team mode |
| Football Manager 26 | Football management | $59.99 | Steam | Deepest football management sim |
| UFL | Free fair-play football | Free | Steam | No pay-to-win, skill-based progression |
| Football Manager 2024 | Last classic FM | $49.99 | Steam | Stable, mature, mature mods |
| Rocket League | Soccer with cars | Free | Epic Games Store | Cross-platform competitive scene |
Why people leave FIFA 22 on PC
The complaints span Reddit, EA’s forums, and the lingering Steam community:
FIFA 22 is delisted and abandoned
EA removed the game from digital stores in late 2023 and from EA Play access in mid-2024. Patches stopped, anti-cheat updates stopped, and the online community has migrated to EA Sports FC titles.
Rosters are now several seasons out of date
The 2021-2022 squads haven’t been updated in years. Players who follow current football find the rosters increasingly disconnected from reality.
Ultimate Team servers shut down in 2024
The Volta and Pro Clubs online modes plus Ultimate Team’s competitive infrastructure are gone. What remains is offline career mode and local play.
PC modding kept some life but hits limits
The FIFA 22 modding community has done genuine work to refresh rosters, but the modding tools struggle with EA’s anti-tamper protections and the workflows are uneven.
The alternatives
EA Sports FC 26 — Best current EA football
EA Sports FC 26 is the current entry in EA’s rebranded football series and the natural step up from FIFA 22. Gameplay refinements, current rosters, full Ultimate Team, Career Mode improvements, and Clubs mode all run on the modernized Frostbite engine. The transition from FIFA branding is complete and the football is recognizable as the same series.
The catch is the price and the same monetization pressures that drove some FIFA fans away. Ultimate Team’s economy still relies on pack opening, and Clubs mode has familiar progression friction.
Where it falls short: Premium pricing at $69.99. Ultimate Team monetization is unchanged in spirit. Some online matchmaking issues at peak hours.
Pricing:
- $69.99 base game; routine sales to $35
- Ultimate Edition: $99.99
- vs FIFA 22: Significantly pricier than FIFA 22’s current discount tiers, but actively supported.
Switching from FIFA 22: Controls feel familiar with minor refinements. UI is more modernized. Career mode has new manager personalization layers.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick EA Sports FC 26 for current rosters and active online play. Skip if you object to EA’s monetization model.
EA Sports FC 25 — Best for the previous-year EA option
EA Sports FC 25 is the prior-year EA Sports FC entry, and at a meaningful price drop it covers the same ground as FIFA 22 with current support and infrastructure. Online play is still active, rosters were current until FC 26 shipped, and the gameplay is nearly identical to FC 26.
For players who want the EA Sports FC experience at a saner price, this is the obvious pick.
Where it falls short: Rosters are one season behind. Online population is dropping as FC 26 takes over. Some FUT events have wound down.
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game; routine sales to $20
- vs FIFA 22: Pricier at full but cheaper on sale and actively supported.
Switching from FIFA 22: Smoother transition than FC 26 in terms of pacing. Same control feel.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick EA Sports FC 25 for current EA football at a fair price. Skip if newest rosters or the active competitive scene matter most.
eFootball 2024 — Best for free football
eFootball 2024 is Konami’s free-to-play football game and the successor to PES. The launch in 2021 was rough, but the engine has been patched and rebalanced through dozens of updates. The current state is the best the title has reached, with Dream Team management, Authentic Team mode, and current rosters.
The price is the killer feature: $0 entry, optional cosmetics and player cards, no fundamental pay-wall on the core experience. Online play is the focus and competitive populations are healthy.
Where it falls short: The Dream Team grind frustrates dedicated players. Animation polish lags behind EA Sports FC. Single-player career depth is limited.
Pricing:
- Free to play; optional Coins for cosmetics and special player cards
- vs FIFA 22: Free vs. delisted-but-paid. Different value proposition.
Switching from FIFA 22: Konami’s control feel is distinct. Pace is slightly different. Dream Team replaces Ultimate Team.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick eFootball 2024 for free competitive football. Skip if you want polished animation and deep career mode.
Football Manager 26 — Best for football management
Football Manager 26 is the deepest football management sim on PC. There’s no on-field control. You set tactics, manage rosters, scout, negotiate transfers, and play seasons that span decades of in-game time. Sports Interactive’s annual updates keep tactical depth refreshed.
For FIFA 22 players who really lived in Career Mode, this is the next-level version of that experience. The competitive online scene is small but the single-player engagement is decades old.
Where it falls short: No on-field gameplay. Steep tactical learning curve. Visual presentation is minimal by design.
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game; sales to $35
- In-game editor add-on: $4.99
- vs FIFA 22: Pricier at retail; deeper specific to management.
Switching from FIFA 22: No controller skill required. Management depth replaces matchday play.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Football Manager 26 for the deepest football management sim. Skip if matchday play was the point of FIFA.
UFL — Best for fair-play football
UFL is Strikerz Inc.’s entry into football gaming and the most interesting newcomer. The pitch is fair-play monetization: no pay-to-win, skill-based progression, and a focus on actual football skill over pack-opening. The full PC launch in early 2026 brought a credible competitor to the EA-Konami duopoly.
The catch is the smaller player base and the newer infrastructure that’s still maturing. Pickup matches happen quickly during peak hours, off-hours can be slow.
Where it falls short: Newer title with less polished animation. Smaller player base. Some matchmaking issues during off-peak.
Pricing:
- Free to play; cosmetics only
- vs FIFA 22: Free with no pay-to-win mechanics.
Switching from FIFA 22: Different control philosophy. Player development replaces pack opening.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick UFL if pay-to-win in Ultimate Team was the deal-breaker. Skip if you wanted licensed roster depth.
Football Manager 2024 — Best last classic FM
Football Manager 2024 is the last entry that maintained the legacy match engine before FM26’s reworked systems. The mod community kept the database current for two seasons, and the older interface has its defenders.
For Football Manager fans who don’t want to relearn the systems, FM 2024 still holds up as a complete management sim at a fair price.
Where it falls short: Older than FM26. No more official patches. New player onboarding less polished than FM26.
Pricing:
- $49.99 base game; sales to $20
- vs FIFA 22: Cheaper, deeper management focus.
Switching from FIFA 22: Identical to FM26 in spirit. Slightly older interface and engine.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Football Manager 2024 if you want classic FM at a low price. Skip if you want the latest engine and rosters.
Rocket League — Best for football with cars
Rocket League isn’t traditional football, but it’s the most popular soccer-adjacent game on PC and the active competitive scene exceeds many other football titles. The free-to-play model and cross-platform play keep matches available 24/7, and the skill ceiling is genuinely deep.
It went Epic Games Store exclusive after the F2P transition in 2020. The Steam listing is delisted, but the game is free on Epic.
Where it falls short: Not actually football in the traditional sense. Requires lateral thinking from FIFA-style play. Epic launcher required.
Pricing:
- Free to play; Rocket Pass and cosmetics optional
- vs FIFA 22: Free, completely different gameplay style.
Switching from FIFA 22: Not a transition you’d make for similar gameplay. Pick this for a fresh take on football, not a replacement.
Download: Epic Games Store
Bottom line: Pick Rocket League if you want competitive soccer-cars and a fresh angle. Skip if you wanted traditional football.
How to choose
If you want the EA football experience with current support, EA Sports FC 26 is the headline pick and EA Sports FC 25 is the value choice. eFootball 2024 is the free alternative and UFL is the fair-play alternative if monetization in Ultimate Team drove you off.
If you really lived in Career Mode rather than online play, Football Manager 26 is the deepest sim and Football Manager 2024 is the cheaper classic-feel option.
Rocket League is the wildcard pick for a completely different football vibe.
Stay on FIFA 22 if you want to keep playing the last FIFA-branded title offline. The game still works, the offline modes are intact, and the player community on PC keeps roster updates flowing through unofficial mods. For online play and current support, the EA Sports FC series is where the action moved.
FAQ
What is the cheapest FIFA 22 alternative? eFootball 2024, UFL, and Rocket League are all free. EA Sports FC 25 on sale drops to $20, which is the cheapest paid alternative with current EA-style football.
Is there a way to still get FIFA 22? The base game is delisted from digital storefronts. Physical copies still circulate. EA removed it from EA Play in mid-2024.
Which FIFA 22 alternative has the active online scene? EA Sports FC 26 has the largest active player base. eFootball 2024 is healthy and growing. UFL is smaller but active during peak hours.
Can I import FIFA 22 saves to EA Sports FC? No. Saves and Career Mode progression don’t transfer. EA explicitly does not provide migration tools.
Is eFootball 2024 better than FIFA 22? Different feel. eFootball has free competitive play and modern engine refinements. FIFA 22 has tighter animation polish and more familiar controls for FIFA veterans.
Will Football Manager work if I came to FIFA for matches? Only if you want to invest in tactical and management depth. Football Manager replaces matchday play with manager-style decision-making.
