If you’ve spent hours mastering your dribble combos and custom tactics in single-player matches, you’re probably ready to learn how to play multiplayer on eFootball 2022 against real opponents across the globe. Many new players run into confusion when navigating the game’s somewhat clunky menu system, especially if they’re trying to connect with friends on different consoles or fix choppy online connections. I’ve put in over 200 hours of online play in eFootball 2022, so I’ve sorted through all the common roadblocks to make this process as painless as possible for you, whether you want to play casual friendlies or climb the ranked leaderboards.
Step-by-Step Setup to Play Multiplayer on eFootball 2022
Before you can jump into any online match, you need to get a few basic setup steps out of the way first, and skipping any of these will usually lead to error messages or failed connection attempts. First, you must link a valid Konami ID to access all multiplayer features — you can create one for free in two minutes on the Konami website, or link an existing ID directly through the game’s settings menu. Make sure you verify your email address linked to the ID, as unverified accounts are blocked from online play for security reasons.
Next, console players will need an active PS Plus, Xbox Live Gold, or Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play online. PC players don’t need any extra subscription beyond owning the base game, but you do need to make sure you’ve downloaded the latest game patch through Steam or the Epic Games Store. Older versions of eFootball 2022 have broken server connectivity that won’t let you join matches even if your internet is working perfectly.
Once those steps are done, navigate to the home screen, select “Game Modes” then “Online” to pull up the full list of multiplayer options. If you get a “server unavailable” pop-up at this stage, the most common fix is restarting your game and router, then waiting five minutes before trying again. Server outages are rare, but they do happen during major event launches, so you can check the official eFootball social channels if the issue lasts longer than an hour.
Popular Multiplayer Modes You Can Try in eFootball 2022
eFootball 2022 has a wide range of multiplayer modes to fit every playstyle, from casual laid-back matches with friends to high-stakes ranked competition. You can pick whichever fits your mood that day, and you don’t have to commit to one mode permanently. Below are the three most popular options most players stick to:
- Friendly Matches: No rank penalties, fully adjustable match settings (you can change half length, difficulty, turn off offside rules if you want), ideal for playing with friends or testing new tactics without pressure. The only downside is you won’t earn in-game coins or rare player rewards for wins.
- Ranked Division Matches: Matchmaking pairs you with players of similar skill level, wins push you up 10 division tiers to unlock rare player cards, coin prizes, and limited-edition kit rewards. You will lose rank points if you lose, so it’s not the best choice if you’re still learning core mechanics or playing on a spotty internet connection.
- 3v3 Co-op Matches: Each player controls a small group of players or a single individual on the pitch, making for chaotic, fun gameplay that feels totally different from standard 1v1 matches. The main drawback is inconsistent matchmaking if you’re playing without pre-made teammates, as you might get paired with new players who don’t know how to coordinate.
I mostly stick to friendly matches with my friends on weekends, but I grind ranked matches on weekday nights when I have time to focus and no one else in my house is using the internet. Event modes are also worth checking out when they’re live, as they often have unique rewards you can’t get anywhere else, like classic team kits or legendary player cards.
How to Invite and Play With Friends Across Different Platforms
One of the biggest perks of eFootball 2022’s multiplayer is full crossplay support across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, so you can play with friends no matter what console they own. Mobile versions of the game don’t support crossplay with console/PC for main multiplayer modes, though, so you’ll only be able to match with other mobile players if you’re playing on your phone.
First, you have to enable crossplay in the “Online Settings” menu before you can send or receive invites from players on other platforms. Crossplay is disabled by default for new players, so you’ll have to toggle it on manually the first time you open the online menu. If you don’t want to play against players on other platforms for any reason, you can leave it disabled and only match with people on the same console as you.
To invite a friend, you need to add their Konami ID to your in-game friend list, not just their console friend list. I spent 20 minutes confused last year trying to invite my friend who plays on Xbox, until I realized I was searching for his Xbox gamertag instead of his Konami ID. If you’re playing with someone on the same console as you, you can skip this step and send an invite directly through your console’s native friend system, which is a lot faster.
Once your friend accepts the invite, you can pick any mode you want to play together, and you can even make a private lobby so no random players can join your match. If you’re playing co-op, you can split control of the team any way you want, from each controlling a single player to each controlling half the pitch.
Tips to Fix Common Multiplayer Connection Issues in eFootball 2022
Lag, random disconnections, and failed match joins are the most common complaints for eFootball 2022 multiplayer, but most of these issues are easy to fix with a few simple adjustments. I’ve run into almost every connection issue possible over my hours of play, so these tips have all been tested firsthand.
First, a wired ethernet connection cuts lag by up to 70% for most users, compared to a standard Wi-Fi connection. I used to play on Wi-Fi and would get constant lag spikes every time someone else in my house streamed Netflix, but switching to a $10 ethernet cable fixed almost all of my connection issues overnight. If you can’t use a wired connection, move your console or PC as close to your router as possible, and disconnect any unused devices from your Wi-Fi network before playing.
Next, adjust your matchmaking region settings to only match with players in your local area or continent. Matching with players on the other side of the world will automatically lead to high ping and lag, even if your internet is perfect. You can change this setting in the “Online Matchmaking” menu, and it will only pair you with players within your selected region.
If you have a strict NAT type, you won’t be able to connect to 80% of other players, so adjust your router settings first if you run into repeated connection failures. You can fix a strict NAT by enabling UPnP on your router, or setting your console to a DMZ in your router’s admin settings. If you don’t know how to do this, you can find step-by-step guides for your specific router model online in a few minutes.
If you keep getting “match aborted” errors mid-game, it’s usually because one player in the lobby has a unstable connection. If you’re hosting the lobby, you can set a minimum connection requirement to kick out players with ping over a certain threshold, which will drastically reduce the number of mid-match disconnections.
At the end of the day, once you get past the initial menu confusion and connection kinks, learning how to play multiplayer on eFootball 2022 is way more rewarding than playing against AI opponents. You’ll pick up new tactics you’d never see from the game’s AI, have fun trash-talking with friends, and feel way more satisfaction when you pull off a last-minute winning goal against a real person. Don’t get discouraged if you lose your first few ranked matches — everyone starts somewhere, and even the top players had to learn the ropes of online play first. If you run into any issues we didn’t cover, drop a comment below and I’ll help you sort it out.