If you’ve booted up eFootball 2022 and felt frustrated staring at the same 5 default squads when your friends are already playing with full iconic Serie A or J.League teams, you’re not alone. Most new players skip over the hidden unlock paths that don’t require spending real money on premium coins, and end up stuck with limited roster options for weeks. This guide breaks down every legitimate method to learn how to unlock teams in eFootball 2022, with no risky exploits that could get your account suspended. I’ve tested every method on both console and mobile versions over the past two years, so I can confirm which paths give you the best value for your time and in-game currency.
How to unlock teams in eFootball 2022 via the free Dream Team career path
Dream Team mode is the core of eFootball 2022’s free-to-play experience, and it’s where you’ll unlock 80% of the game’s licensed teams without spending a dime. The unlocks are tied to simple, low-effort challenges that most new players miss because they rush past the initial tutorial to jump straight into online matches. You don’t have to build a meta competitive squad to unlock these teams either, even a team of default bronze players can complete all the required challenges.
- Complete all 12 rookie training drills: This unlocks 7 top European national teams including England, France, and Germany, plus 10,000 GP as a bonus reward.
- Win 3 Division 10 matches in Dream Team: You’ll get access to the full 2021/22 Premier League base roster pack, no coins required.
- Finish the first 5 event campaign missions: This unlocks either the full J.League or Brasileirão Série A roster, depending on your region settings when you first set up the game.
You don’t need to use any of your saved GP or coins to claim these rewards, they’re automatically added to your inventory once you hit the requirements. I made that mistake when I first started, skipping the rookie drills to jump straight into online matches, and had to go back and complete them a month later when I realized I was missing half the national team roster. These base teams are fully playable in both offline friendly matches and online casual lobbies, so you don’t have to grind for premium players just to play with your favorite league’s squads. This is the fastest, zero-cost option for new players looking to expand their roster options quickly.
Unlock premium iconic teams via in-game event rewards
Konami runs limited-time in-game events every two weeks, usually tied to real-world football milestones like Champions League finals, international breaks, or club anniversary celebrations. These events are the only way to unlock iconic classic teams that don’t appear in the base game’s regular roster list, without spending real money. Most events run for 7 to 14 days, so you have plenty of time to hit the point threshold to claim rewards.
Iconic team packs include classic rosters with peak-version players like 2010 Messi or 2005 Gerrard, which you can’t get from standard base unlocks. Most of these events require you to earn 2500 event points by playing matches against other players or AI, and you can usually hit that total in 8 to 10 matches if you win most of your games. You can earn event points even if you lose matches, you just get 50 points per loss instead of 150 per win, so even new players can hit the target if they put in a little time.
There’s one small catch to these event unlocks: These iconic teams are only usable in the event they’re released for, unless you pay 5000 GP to permanently add them to your roster. I usually skip that permanent unlock unless it’s a team I play with regularly, since GP is better spent on training packs for your main Dream Team squad. Also, be wary of third-party sites promising free iconic team codes, they’re almost always scams that will either steal your account information or infect your device with malware.
Paid unlock methods for rare licensed teams
If you’re looking for access to rare, unlicensed teams that don’t appear in free challenge or event reward pools, there are a couple of legitimate paid options available directly through the in-game store. These are completely optional, and you can still enjoy 90% of the game’s content without spending any money, but they’re worth considering if you’re a diehard fan of a specific less popular league or classic team.
All paid unlocks are completely optional, and you can access 90% of the game’s licensed teams for free if you’re willing to grind events for a few weeks. The first paid option is individual premium team packs sold in the in-game store, which usually cost between 1000 and 2000 coins, translating to $10 to $20 USD depending on the coin bundle you buy. These packs include permanent access to rare unlicensed teams that you can’t get for free, like some of the smaller South American national teams or classic European club sides from the 90s and 2000s.
The second paid option is the eFootball 2022 Premium Edition upgrade, which gives you access to 20 extra club teams, 5 iconic player cards, and 5000 bonus GP if you bought the base free-to-play version. I only recommend this upgrade if you play the game at least 3 times a week, otherwise it’s not worth the $30 price tag. All paid teams work in every game mode, including competitive ranked play, so if you’re looking to climb the ranked ladder with a specific rare squad, this is the fastest way to get access.
Common mistakes to avoid when unlocking teams
I wasted almost 15,000 GP on team unlocks in my first month of playing, so I know exactly what pitfalls to warn you about. Most of these mistakes are easy to avoid if you know what to look for, and they’ll save you hours of grinding and hundreds of dollars in unnecessary purchases over time.
Never spend GP on base team packs that you can unlock for free via challenges. The store sells the same Premier League base pack you get for winning 3 Division 10 matches for 3000 GP, which is a total waste of currency you could use for training or event entries. Second, don’t fall for “unlock all teams” mods or hacks, especially on the PC version of the game. Konami has a strict anti-cheat system, and you’ll get a permanent account ban if you’re caught using any modified game files, no exceptions.
Third, don’t forget to claim your rewards from the mission tab after you complete unlock requirements. A lot of players assume teams are automatically added to their roster, but you have to manually claim them from the reward inbox first, and unclaimed rewards expire after 30 days. If you’re playing on mobile, make sure you’re connected to a stable internet connection when you claim rewards, otherwise you might lose access to the team you just unlocked, and Konami’s support team rarely restores lost in-game items.
At the end of the day, you don’t have to spend a ton of money or grind for 10 hours a day to get access to your favorite squads. Whether you’re looking for casual friendly matches with friends or competitive ranked play, there’s an unlock method that fits your schedule and budget. If you follow the steps we’ve laid out, you’ll be able to figure out how to unlock teams in eFootball 2022 without wasting currency or risking your account. If you have a favorite team that we didn’t cover an unlock path for, drop a comment below and I’ll help you figure out the fastest way to get access to it.