There’s nothing better than settling in for a casual football match with a friend when you don’t have a stable internet connection, or just want to skip the lag and toxicity of online play. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had friends over, only to spend 10 minutes scrolling through menus trying to find the offline 2 player option before we can kick off. If you’ve been fumbling through menus trying to figure out how to play 2 player on eFootball 2023 offline, you’re not alone. Konami’s menu layout isn’t always the most intuitive for new players, and it’s easy to miss the offline co-op options if you don’t know where to look. This guide breaks down every step you need to take to get your local 2 player match up and running in minutes, no extra downloads or account sign-ins required.
Pre-Game Setup You Need to Play 2 Player on eFootball 2023 Offline
Before you even launch the game, there are a few simple checks you can run to avoid wasting time troubleshooting later. First, confirm you have two compatible controllers for your device. Most official console controllers (DualShock 4, DualSense, Xbox One/Series, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller) work automatically, and most licensed third-party controllers will also connect without extra setup. For PC players, you may need to pair wireless controllers via Bluetooth first, or plug them in via USB to get them detected.
You don’t need any paid DLC, premium packs, or additional downloads to access offline 2 player modes, so don’t worry if you’re running the base free-to-play version of the game. The only requirements you need to meet are:
- Two compatible controllers (you can’t use keyboard and mouse for the second player on most console versions, so stick to official or licensed third-party controllers)
- Updated base version of eFootball 2023 (you don’t need any paid DLC packs to access offline 2 player modes)
- Enough storage space on your device to save match replays and custom settings if you want to keep them
You don’t need an active PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscription to play offline 2 player, which is a common misconception a lot of new players have. You also don’t need to log into a Konami ID, so you can skip all those pop-ups when you launch the game. Make sure both controllers are fully charged or plugged in before you launch the game to avoid mid-match disconnects that ruin the flow of your game.
Navigating Menus to Launch Your Offline 2 Player Match
Once you’ve got your controllers connected, launch eFootball 2023 and select “Play Offline” if you get prompted to sign into an online account. From the main home screen, scroll past all the online mode banners (like Dream Team and Matchday) until you see the “Game Modes” tab. Select that, then navigate to the “Offline” sub-tab to pull up all the offline play options.
Select “Friend Match” from the list, and you’ll be taken to the controller assignment screen. Each player will need to press the confirm button (X on PlayStation, A on Xbox, B on Switch) on their controller to claim their side. You can pick home or away, swap teams, customize kits, choose your stadium, adjust weather settings, and tweak match rules all from this screen. If you want to use custom edited squads, make sure you load them in the squad management menu before you launch the friend match.
If you don’t see both controllers pop up on the assignment screen, exit back to the main menu, go to “Settings” then “Controller Settings” to make sure both devices are detected. On PC, if one controller is showing up as the same player, close any controller mapping software you have running in the background, as these can conflict with the game’s default detection. If you want to play with custom squads, make sure you load your edited team files before launching the friend match, as you can’t swap squads mid-setup.
Top Game Mode Options for Offline 2 Player eFootball 2023
Friend Match isn’t the only offline 2 player mode you can enjoy, and there are options for both competitive and co-op play depending on what you’re in the mood for. The most popular option for casual play is standard 1v1 friend match, where you can adjust half length, difficulty, and rule sets to fit your preference. If you’re playing with someone new to the game, you can turn off offside calls, lower the difficulty, or extend half lengths to give them more time to get used to the controls.
If you don’t feel like competing against each other, you can select “Offline Co-op” mode to team up against the AI. You can both play on the same team, split control of players, and take turns managing tactics if you want. This is a great option for younger players or groups that want to work together instead of fighting for bragging rights. You can adjust the AI difficulty from Beginner all the way up to Legendary, so you can find a challenge that fits both of your skill levels.
For longer game nights, you can set up a custom offline tournament with up to 16 teams. You and your friend can take turns controlling different teams, or each pick a few teams to compete through the knockout stages for a small prize or bragging rights. For the most balanced casual play, set the match difficulty to Professional and half length to 6 minutes – it’s long enough to build attacks without dragging the match out. I’ve found that turning off automatic substitutions makes these matches way more fun, since you get full control over your team’s tactics instead of the game swapping players out when you don’t expect it.
Fixes for Common Offline 2 Player eFootball 2023 Issues
Even if you follow all the setup steps, you might run into a few small issues that stop your match from launching, but most of them have super simple fixes. The most common issue is one controller not being detected on the assignment screen. If this happens, close the game completely, unplug and replug the controller (or re-pair it if it’s wireless) then launch the game again. On PC, make sure you have the latest controller drivers installed, and that you haven’t set the controller to “X-Input” or “Direct Input” mode incorrectly in your device settings.
If the game keeps forcing you to sign into a Konami ID every time you launch it, just select “Skip” or “Play Offline” – the pop-up is just a prompt for online modes, and you don’t need to sign in to access any offline features. If the pop-up keeps coming back, you can turn off online notifications in the game settings menu to stop them from appearing in the future.
If you’re noticing frame drops or input lag during 2 player matches, try lowering your graphics settings a little, especially if you’re playing on a lower-end PC or older console. You can also turn off auto-save for replays and match data to free up processing power, which will make the game run smoother. Never force close the game mid-match if you run into an issue, as this can corrupt your saved custom settings and squad files. Instead, pause the match, exit to the main menu, then close the game properly if you need to restart.
At the end of the day, offline 2 player play is one of the most underrated features of eFootball 2023, and it’s perfect for casual game nights, trips with friends, or even just a quick match when your internet goes out. Once you get the hang of the menu layout, you’ll be able to launch a match in less than a minute, no fuss or extra steps required. Whether you’re competing for bragging rights or teaming up to take down a legendary difficulty AI, knowing how to play 2 player on eFootball 2023 offline opens up a ton of fun you don’t need an online connection to enjoy. Next time you have a friend over, skip the boring board games and load up a match – you won’t regret it.