If you’ve spent hours grinding eFootball matches only to end up with generic silver and gold players you don’t want, you know how frustrating it is to miss out on top-tier talent. Most players skip over nominating contracts because they don’t understand how to unlock or use them, but these items are one of the best free ways to sign specific star players without wasting thousands of coins on random scout packs. If you’re wondering how to get nominating contracts in eFootball consistently, this guide breaks down every legitimate method, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to use them to get the exact players you need for your squad. I’ve tested every method listed here over 18 months of playing the game regularly, so you don’t have to waste time on tricks that don’t work.
Legitimate Ways to Get Nominating Contracts in eFootball Without Paying
You don’t have to spend real money on coins or premium passes to get nominating contracts, contrary to what many clickbait tutorials online will tell you. All the methods below are accessible to free-to-play players, and you can start using them as soon as you finish the game’s initial onboarding process. I’ve used all of these to earn at least 2-3 nominating contracts per month without spending a cent on the game.
- Weekly and monthly event challenges: Most limited-time events, especially those tied to real-world football tournaments or league cycles, include nominating contracts as top rewards for completing 3-4 simple challenge objectives. These usually require winning 2-3 matches on intermediate difficulty or using players from a specific league in your squad, so they’re very doable even for casual players.
- Division rise and seasonal rank rewards: Every time you move up a division in online ranked play, you’ll get a small reward bundle that often includes 1-2 nominating contracts. You’ll also get bigger stacks of these contracts at the end of each ranked season based on your final rank, even if you only finish in the lower bronze or silver tiers.
- Login streak and campaign rewards: The game regularly runs 7-14 day login campaigns where you get small daily rewards for opening the app. Nominating contracts are often included as day 7 or day 10 rewards, so even if you don’t have time to play matches, logging in for 30 seconds each day will help you stack these contracts over time.
Be wary of any third-party sites or hacks that claim to give you unlimited nominating contracts for free. These are almost always scams designed to steal your account information, and Konami will permanently ban any account found using unauthorized tools to get in-game items. It’s far better to earn them through legitimate methods, even if it takes a little extra time.
How to Maximize Your Nominating Contract Earnings Fast
Even if you’re only playing 2-3 matches a week, you can tweak your routine to earn nominating contracts twice as fast as the average player. The trick is to prioritize objectives that stack, so you can complete multiple challenges in a single match instead of grinding each one separately.
First, always check the event tab before you queue up for any match. If there’s an event that requires you to use 3 Premier League players and another that asks you to score 2 goals with midfielders, build a squad that meets both requirements before you start playing. That way, you’ll make progress on both challenges at the same time, cutting your grind time in half.
You should also save your nominating contract tickets for special limited-time pools instead of using them as soon as you get them. Regular nominating contract pools usually only have generic gold players, but limited pools tied to events like the Champions League or World Cup have special version players with higher stats and unique animations that you can’t get anywhere else. I once saved 4 contracts for 6 weeks to use on a Champions League pool, and I got a 96-rated version of Erling Haaland that’s still the star of my squad 8 months later.
If you’re willing to play a small number of co-op matches with friends, you can earn even more contracts faster. Co-op event challenges usually have lower difficulty requirements and better reward pools than solo challenges, so grabbing 1-2 friends to play 3 matches a week will net you extra contracts without extra effort.
Common Mistakes That Make You Miss Out on Nominating Contracts
Most players don’t lose out on nominating contracts because they don’t play enough, they lose out because they make small, avoidable mistakes that cost them rewards. I used to make all of these mistakes myself when I first started playing, so I know how frustrating it is to miss out on a contract you almost earned.
The most common mistake is ignoring low-difficulty event challenges. A lot of players skip over challenges that require you to play on beginner or amateur difficulty, because they think it’s not worth their time. But most of these challenges take less than 10 minutes to complete, and the nominating contract reward is exactly the same as the one you get for harder challenges. There’s no shame in playing on lower difficulty to knock out quick rewards, especially if you’re short on time.
Another mistake is letting event challenges expire before you complete them. Most event challenges only run for 7-14 days, and once they’re gone, the rewards are gone forever. I set a quick reminder on my phone 2 days before each event ends to check if I have any unfinished challenges that give nominating contracts as a reward. It takes 2 minutes to check, and it’s saved me from missing out on at least 10 contracts over the last year.
You also don’t want to waste your contracts on players you don’t need. It’s tempting to use a nominating contract as soon as you get it to pick any high-rated player, but if that player doesn’t fit your squad’s playstyle or formation, you’re just wasting the contract. Wait until you find a player that fills a specific gap in your squad, even if it means holding onto the contract for a few weeks. It’s far better to have a 90-rated player that fits your system than a 94-rated player that you never use.
How to Use Your Nominating Contracts for Maximum Squad Value
Getting nominating contracts is only half the battle; using them correctly is what will help you build a competitive squad that can win ranked matches against higher-rated opponents. There are a few simple rules I follow every time I use a nominating contract that have helped me build a top 10% squad without spending any money.
First, always prioritize special version players over standard high-rated players. Special version players (like Team of the Week, Festival of Football, or Champions League variants) have higher base stats, better skill moves, and often higher potential for growth if you train them. A 92-rated special version player will almost always perform better than a 93-rated standard player, even if their overall rating is slightly lower.
You should also pick players that fit your current formation and playstyle, instead of picking the highest-rated player available. If you play a 4-3-3 formation with attacking wingers, a 91-rated winger with 95 speed and 90 crossing will be far more useful to you than a 94-rated central midfielder that doesn’t fit your system. I used to make the mistake of picking the highest-rated player every time, and I ended up with a squad full of central midfielders that I never used.
If you’re not sure which player to pick, test them out in the practice arena first. Most nominating contract pools let you preview the player’s stats and skill moves, so you can take them for a test run in practice matches before you make your final decision. This takes 5 minutes, and it will save you from wasting a contract on a player that feels clunky or doesn’t play the way you expected.
Finally, don’t sleep on lower-rated niche players if you’re building a themed squad for event challenges. If there’s an event that requires you to use all players from Ligue 1, a nominating contract for an 88-rated Ligue 1 fullback that you can’t get from regular packs will help you complete those challenges far faster than a 95-rated player from a different league.
At the end of the day, earning nominating contracts doesn’t have to be a grind reserved for only the most hardcore players. With a little bit of planning, prioritizing the right challenges, and avoiding common mistakes, you can earn enough of these contracts to build your dream squad without spending any real money. Now that you know how to get nominating contracts in eFootball, you can start stacking them this week to pick up the star player you’ve been missing for your squad. Don’t be afraid to hold onto contracts for a few weeks if the current pools don’t have players you want – the wait will always be worth it when you finally get the exact player you’ve been looking for.