eFootball New Season Update Adds Gameplay Tweaks and Stadium Customization

eFootball’s newest season 5.0.0 update was implemented on Aug. 14, 2025, adding Custom Stadium mode and over 80 balance update changes. Custom Stadium mode allows players to personalise their stadium arenas; in addition, new Ambassador Editions for Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal debuted. 

The update also added a new feature: Link-Up Play. This allows a special combination play to be performed when specific players are together, improving their abilities when conditions are met. Jose Mourinho was released in the game to celebrate this new feature; he can use the Diagonal Long Pass A link-up skill with specific characters. 

Here are the balance updates, according to VGC, which sources the official YouTube update video: 

• Dribbling
  • When dribbling away from a defender, they are now less likely to attempt to steal the ball.
  • Added new motions for when an opponent approaches from the side, improving the sense of fairness and control.
  • Added new motions for evading defenders approaching from the left or right, making it easier for players with high Balance to dribble past opponents.
  • Acceleration while dribbling has been adjusted: quick acceleration at low speeds and gradual acceleration at high speeds.
  • The Dribbling and Acceleration player stats now affect how quickly a player accelerates while dribbling.
• Feints
  • New motions were added for the Marseille Turn and Chop Turn to improve control.
  • Some special Marseille Turn motions were removed.
• Trapping
  • Corrected issues where players were unable to receive passes.
  • Fixed the problem of the ball hitting the player’s body immediately after trapping.
  • Addressed the issue where it took too long for players to gain full control of the ball after trapping a mid-air pass.
  • Added new trapping motions to prevent players from moving too slowly after trapping the ball.
  • Corrected the problem where the ball could not be trapped in the intended direction.
  • Players will now move to a better position to trap a mid-air ball with their leg.
• Shooting
  • Players with maximum Weak Foot Accuracy and the Outside Curler and Blitz Curler skills will now prioritize using a Blitz Curler with their weak foot over an Outside Curler with their strong foot when possible.
  • Fixed the issue where direct shots with a kick or header were significantly off target.
• Heading
  • Players will now move closer to opponents when competing for a header.
  • New heading motions have been added for more suitable headers.
  • The accuracy of near and far-post heading shots directed to the left or right has been adjusted.
• Kicking
  • Corrected the problem of players failing to kick the ball due to catching their other leg.
  • Adjusted decision-making to cancel kicks in certain situations, preventing players from kicking opponents.
  • Fixed the issue where a low pass from a set piece used an incorrect player stat for accuracy calculation.
  • Early crosses can now be sent to a position closer to the goal.
  • The increase in kicking speed after a Knock-on command is now also applied when kicking from the outside of the boot.
  • Fixed issues where a player’s kick was cancelled because the ball hit them instead.
  • Corrected the problem of players stumbling and being unable to kick when competing for the ball.
• Defence
  • Fixed issues where players would get stuck to opponents after winning the ball, preventing them from taking possession.
  • New sliding tackle motions were added to improve control.
  • Adjusted motion display so that players can touch the ball during a sliding tackle without committing a foul.
  • The Tackling player stat now has a greater effect on sliding tackles.
  • Acceleration for defenders and attackers away from the ball has been adjusted to allow for quick movements at low speeds and gradual acceleration at high speeds.
  • The base movement speed when using directional inputs has been adjusted to improve control.
  • Players will now rarely attempt automatic standing tackles when the ball is far away, unless the Pressure command is given.
  • It is now easier to attempt a tackle while running alongside an opponent.
  • It is now easier to make contact with the ball when blocking a low pass or low through ball.
  • Fixed the issue where it was difficult to block or defend against direct kick feints while using the Match-up command.
  • Corrected the problem of players stumbling in unusual ways during a Shoulder Charge.
  • Players will now start defending more quickly after losing possession, depending on their Defensive Engagement player stat.
  • The penalty that prevented the active player near the ball from moving immediately after losing possession has been adjusted, allowing them to keep moving.
  • Players will no longer come to a sudden stop immediately after losing the ball.
  • The Defensive Engagement player stat will now affect the timing of a defender’s press if they are behind an opponent who just received a pass.
  • Forwards will now take up slightly deeper positions in their own half when their team is pinned back.
  • Fixed the issue of two forwards occupying the same position when the team is pinned back.
  • Players with high Defensive Engagement are now more likely to run back at full speed to defend their goal.
  • Adjusted the reaction speed of AI-controlled players covering the goal who were clearing shots too quickly.
  • AI-controlled players with high Aggression will now close the distance on an opponent more quickly when applying pressure.
  • When using the Pressure or Call for Pressure command, players with high Defensive Awareness will now track opponents more easily.
  • Adjusted the reaction speed of players responding too quickly to an opponent’s dribbling or feint while using the Pressure or Call for Pressure command.
  • Corrected the problem where defenders were not turning properly towards the ball while using the Pressure or Call for Pressure commands, making them more likely to face the right direction.
  • While using the Pressure or Call for Pressure command, players with high Defensive Awareness will have greater success following ballcarriers who perform a feint.
  • The range of movement for an active player standing between the ballcarrier and the goal while using the Match-up command has been expanded.
  • Players will now move more smoothly according to directional inputs within a correctable range when using the Match-up command.
  • The game will now respond better to movement commands entered immediately after a manual cursor switch while using the Match-up command.
  • Call for Pressure will now be cancelled if used for a certain length of time when the players applying pressure are far from the ball.
• Offence
  • Players’ acceleration while running is now affected by both the Acceleration and Attacking Awareness player stats.
  • Players will now move at 70% of their full speed in certain situations instead of always running at full speed.
  • Players running from a deep position behind the opposition’s back line will now start to decelerate in certain situations.
  • The frequency of players running at full speed to a forward position on the attack has been reduced.
  • Adjusted positioning to reduce the likelihood of defensive players moving to an attacking area when the ball is loose, which would leave the team vulnerable to a counter-attack.
  • Players will now turn their bodies more appropriately when running in front of goal to receive a cross.
  • When the Team Playstyle is Possession Game, right and left backs will now take higher positions during build-up play unless they have the Defensive Full-back playing style.
  • When the Team Playstyle is Possession Game, central and defensive midfielders will now take slightly higher positions during build-up play unless they have the Anchor Man playing style.
  • When the team’s back line has the ball, a center back with the Build Up playing style will now move to a suitable position to receive a pass.
  • Addressed the problem of players supporting the play being hidden behind an opposing defender, allowing for smoother passing.
  • Players deep in midfield will now move to slightly higher positions to support passing during build-up play in certain situations.
• Goalkeeper
  • New ball throwing motions were added to speed up the goalkeeper’s movements before releasing the ball.
  • Fixed the issue of the goalkeeper stopping completely after chasing a ball about to go out of play.
  • Fixed the issue of the goalkeeper stopping completely after rushing out to defend against a dribbling attacker.
  • Corrected the problem of goalkeepers being unable to catch a high bouncing ball in time.
  • Goalkeepers will now make more suitable movements when rushing out to block a shot from a dribbling attacker.
  • Fixed the issue where a goalkeeper would turn towards their goal and attempt a leg save while a teammate had possession near the goal line.
  • Goalkeepers can no longer catch balls for the purpose of wasting time, such as a ball headed back to them after a goal kick, goalkeeper throw-in, punt, or a pass from a teammate involving a feint or trapping play.
• AI
  • When a player kicks the ball and an opponent makes an immediate sliding tackle, the player is now more likely to make motions to avoid the tackle.
  • The difficulty for each Match Level’s AI has been adjusted to reflect changes in game balance.
  • The effect of player Stamina on the Speed player stat has been adjusted.
  • Fixed the issue where the cursor would not leave the kicker after a corner kick.
  • Corrected the problem of the cursor switching to the wrong player after a cross, which will now stay on the intended target in most cases.
  • When an AI-controlled player takes on an opponent with the ball, the higher their Aggression, the closer they will get to the ballcarrier.
  • When an AI-controlled player takes on an opponent with the ball, the higher their Defensive Engagement, the faster they will move in front of the ballcarrier.
  • Corrected the problem where a player automatically moved to an unintended position after a cursor switch, ensuring they defend as instructed.
  • Fixed the issue where an AI-controlled player moved unusually close to the goalkeeper after the keeper had caught the ball and fallen to the ground.

The game was initially released for Windows PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on September 30, 2021, and was later ported to Android and iOS on June 2, 2022.