There’s nothing better than teaming up with friends to take on rival squads in eFootball, but many players get stuck figuring out how to play co op in eFootball 2023 when they first dive into the game. Whether you want to sit on the same couch with a buddy or team up with friends across the world for ranked matches, the co op setup process is simpler than you think once you know where to look. I’ve spent dozens of hours testing every co op mode in the game, so I’m breaking down exactly what you need to do to get playing without frustrating delays or error messages.
How to Play Co Op in eFootball 2023: Core Mode Options to Choose First
Before you jump into setup, it helps to know what co op modes are available, so you can pick the one that fits your group best. Each mode has slightly different rules and setup requirements, so you don’t waste time navigating menus for a mode you don’t actually want to play. If you’re just testing out co op for the first time, start with the most casual option to get the hang of things.
Local co op is the best option if you’re playing with people in the same room, and it works even if you don’t have a stable internet connection. You can play 1v1 against a friend, team up 2v1 against AI, or even do 2v2 if you have four controllers available. It’s the most low-pressure way to play, and you don’t have to worry about lag or server issues ruining your match.
Online ranked co op lets you climb the global leaderboards with a consistent partner, which is great if you want competitive play with a friend you work well with. Wins count towards your overall co op rank, and you’ll be matched against other squads with similar skill levels, so you don’t get crushed by pro players right away. There’s also casual online co op for when you don’t care about rank and just want to mess around with friends, plus open 3v3 lobbies where you can team up with random players if none of your friends are online.
You don’t need any special DLC or paid content to access any co op modes, they’re all included for free with the base eFootball 2023 game. The only restriction is that you need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscription if you’re playing on console for online modes, same as most other online multiplayer games.
Step-by-Step Setup for Local and Online Co Op Matches
Once you’ve picked your mode, the setup process only takes a couple of minutes if you follow these steps. If you’re new to figuring out how to play co op in eFootball 2023, start with casual local matches first to get used to the controls with a friend before jumping online. Most setup issues happen when people skip small pre-match checks, so take an extra 30 seconds to confirm everything before you load into a game.
For local co op, first make sure all controllers are properly paired to your console or PC. Wired controllers work right away most of the time, but you may need to re-pair wireless controllers via Bluetooth if they don’t show up. Next, navigate to the main menu, select “Friend Match”, then “Local Match”. Switch to the co op tab, then assign controllers to the same team if you’re playing against AI, or split them to opposing teams if you want to play against each other. You can adjust match settings like half length, difficulty, and whether custom player cards are allowed before you start.
For online co op, first add your friend to your eFootball friends list. You can link your platform friends list (PlayStation, Xbox, Steam) directly to import all your friends who play the game, which saves you from having to type in usernames manually. Then go to the “Online” tab, select “Co Op Lobby”, create a new lobby, set privacy to “Friends Only” if you only want people you know to join, and send invites to your squad. You can have up to 3 players per team in most online co op modes, so you can build a full attacking line with your best friends if you want.
Before you send invites or start a match, run through these quick checks to avoid common issues:
- Confirm all players have installed the latest eFootball 2023 patch to avoid version mismatch errors that block people from joining
- Double-check controller assignments before loading into the match, as you can’t change them mid-game without quitting entirely
- Set your preferred match settings (half length, difficulty, custom player transfers allowed) before sending invites to save time once your squad joins
- For online play, run a quick internet connection test to make sure you have at least 5Mbps upload speed for smooth, lag-free gameplay
Tips to Improve Your Co Op Gameplay and Win More Matches
Getting set up is the easy part, but winning co op matches takes a little coordination, especially if you’re playing against other coordinated squads online. One of the biggest mistakes new players make when learning how to play co op in eFootball 2023 is trying to control every position on the field instead of sticking to their assigned role. I’ve played with dozens of random squads in open lobbies, and the teams that lose almost always have all three players chasing the ball at the same time, leaving huge gaps in defense.
Using fixed player positions instead of “any player” control will make your team far more coordinated, because you won’t end up fighting over the same player to control. For 3v3 matches, assign one player to defense, one to midfield, and one to attack, so every part of the field is covered. I used to play with two friends where we all swapped to whoever was closest to the ball, and we lost 7 out of 10 matches. Once we locked in our positions (I play left wing, one friend is center back, the other is striker), we won 8 out of our next 10 matches, even against higher-ranked squads.
Communication is also key, even if you’re only playing casual matches. If you’re playing with friends, use a third-party voice chat app like Discord to call out open passes, warn each other about incoming defenders, and plan set piece plays. If you’re playing with randoms, use the in-game quick chat options to let your teammates know when you’re making a run, when you need support in defense, or when you’re taking a shot.
You can also use custom team tactics for your co op squad, just like you would for single player matches. If your team likes to play fast counter-attacking football, set your tactics to high press and fast build up play. If you prefer to keep possession and wear teams down, set your tactics to slow build up and short passing. Make sure everyone on the team knows what tactics you’re using so you’re all on the same page.
Common Co Op Issues and How to Fix Them Fast
Even if you follow all the setup steps perfectly, you might run into a few common issues when playing co op. Most of these have simple fixes that only take a minute or two, so you don’t have to abandon your match plans entirely. I’ve run into every one of these issues at least a dozen times, so I know exactly what works to fix them fast.
The most common issue is the version mismatch error, which pops up when one player in your group hasn’t installed the latest game patch. eFootball pushes small updates every couple of weeks to fix bugs and adjust player stats, so it’s easy to miss an update if you haven’t played in a few days. To fix this, just have everyone close the game completely and restart it, which will force the latest patch to install automatically.
Another common issue is lobbies not showing up for friends, or invites not sending. This almost always happens because your lobby privacy is set to “Public” instead of “Friends Only”, or you have crossplay disabled if you’re playing with someone on a different platform. Go to your game settings, make sure crossplay is enabled, and double check your lobby privacy settings before resending invites.
Input lag in online co op is another frustrating issue that can ruin even the best matches. Turn off background downloads on your console or PC while playing to reduce lag spikes, and use a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible. If you’re still getting lag, lower your in-game graphics settings slightly, as high graphics settings can cause frame drops that feel like input lag.
If you get a “failed to connect to lobby” error repeatedly, it’s usually a server issue on Konami’s end, not a problem with your setup. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again instead of spamming invites, as server outages usually get fixed very quickly. You can check the official eFootball server status page if you want to confirm if there’s an ongoing outage.
Teaming up with friends for co op matches is easily one of the most fun parts of eFootball, and now that you know how to play co op in eFootball 2023, you can skip the confusing setup steps and jump straight to the action. You don’t need to be a pro player to have a good time, even if you lose more than you win at first. The more you play with the same group, the more coordinated you’ll get, and you might even climb the leaderboards faster than you ever could playing solo.