Goals is a free FIFA alternative that actually delivers

Goals – a free-to-play football game from a studio of the same name – is shaping up to be the first genuine FIFA rival since Pro Evolution Soccer faded in the late 2000s. eFootball, Rematch, and even the official FIFA World Cup game on Netflix have all failed to fill that gap, but Goals feels different.

On the surface it looks a lot like Ultimate Team: card packs, squad building, and modes that closely mirror FIFA's Division Rivals and Weekend League. Progression is slower and less aggressive, though. There's a pay-to-win element via premium currency you can spend on more packs, but the highest rarity you can guarantee is uncommon – players rated 70–79. The chance of pulling an 80+ player sits at just over 5%, an 85+ at 0.37%, and a 95+ at a staggering 0.0002%, roughly 1 in 500,000. That means the pay-to-win ceiling is far lower than in EA Sports FC, at least for now. High-rated cards can also be earned through an upgrade system rather than pure pack luck.

On the pitch, FIFA players will feel immediately at home. The control scheme is nearly identical – R1/RB for pressing without the ball and finesse shots with it, skill moves on the right analog stick. But there are meaningful differences. Hands-off defending doesn't work here; you have to be proactive and time your tackles. Sitting on the ball in your own defensive third isn't an option either – a zone slowly expands from behind your goal, and spending too long inside it gives the opponent a free kick. The studio isn't trying to reinvent football games; it's offering FIFA-style gameplay with less of the frustration baked in.

Goals is still early in its life, and pack odds and variety will likely shift as the game grows. But right now it's the most compelling FIFA alternative in years – especially for anyone burned out on EA Sports FC's monetization model.