FIFA 22
FIFA 22 Showdown Series: Release date & featured players
FIFA 22’s newest Ultimate Team promo is finally here and the Showdown Series is set to deliver some top players with potential upgrades.
EA have delivered a brand-new promo concept with the FIFA 22 Showdown Series. Ultimate Team fans will be able to secure some top players with potential future upgrades.
There was a ton of confusion surrounding the promo set to proceed Fantasy FUT in FIFA 22. Several rumors pointed toward FUT Captain as the follow-up to Fantasy FUT but we now know that Showdown Series is next up.
A pseudo promo like Showdown Series is a great choice as EA needs to bridge the gap to the highly anticipated Team of the Season.
We’re here to prepare you for the brand-new Ultimate Team promo called Showdown Series.
FIFA 22 Showdown Series release date
Although EA certainly kept a heavy lid on what the next promo could have been, Ultimate Team players were eager to find out that Showdown Series awaited them on April 1. The first day of the month ushered in a new FIFA 22 promo.
The promo is expected to come to a close on April 7. Most new promos appear live in-game at 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT / 6 PM GMT / 7 PM CET, and this was also true for Showdown Series.
Showdown Series promo explained
As it pertains to Ultimate Team, the term Showdown refers to a type of SBC that players are free to complete. Traditionally, this type of SBC highlights two players who are set to face each other in an upcoming football fixture.
The winner of the real-life match receives a +2 upgrade while the loser does not receive a boost. If the teams play to a tie, both players receive a +1 rating upgrade.
Interestingly enough, the Showdown Series promo will focus on SBCs in addition to Objectives as a method of receiving new players.
FIFA 22 Showdown Series players
Several FIFA leakers including FutSheriff have claimed that players could receive up to eight new Showdown SBCs. The Showdown Series will focus on SBCs and Objectives as a method to earn new cards much like the Silver Stars promo.
Nonetheless, there are sure to be some exciting new cards up for grabs. Given that these cards could be eligible for upgrades, they’ll probably come at a steep price.
Here is a list of every Showdown Series player so far:
| Player | Club | SBC / OBJ | Upgrade | Expiry Date |
| Weston McKennie | Piemonte Calcio (Juventus) | SBC | 0 | April 3 |
| Marcelo Brozovic | Inter Milan | SBC | +2 | April 3 |
| Benjamin Pavard | Bayern Munich | SBC | 0 | April 6 |
| Serge Aurier | Villarreal | SBC | +2 | April 6 |
| Wout Weghorst | Burnley | SBC | +2 | April 6 |
| Richarlison | Everton | SBC | 0 | April 6 |
| Marcus Tavernier | Middlesbrough F.C. | SBC | 0 | April 6 |
| Fábio Carvalho | Fulham | SBC | +2 | April 6 |
| Ryan Kent | Rangers | SBC | 0 | April 7 |
| Iuri Medeiros | Braga | SBC | +2 | April 7 |
| Harvey Barnes | Leicester City | SBC | +1 | April 7 |
| Mario Götze | PSV | SBC | +1 | April 7 |
| Thiago Mendes | Lyon | OBJ | +1 | April 7 |
| Andriy Yarmolenko | West Ham | OBJ | +1 | April 7 |
| Genki Haraguchi | Union Berlin | SBC | +2 | April 9 |
| Suat Serdar | Hertha BSC | SBC | 0 | April 9 |
| Konrad de la Fuente | Olympique de Marseille | OBJ | +2 | April 13 |
| Matheus Thuler | Montpellier | OBJ | 0 | April 13 |
| Curtis Jones | Liverpool | SBC | +1 | April 10 |
| Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City | SBC | +1 | April 10 |
We’ll keep this list updated with new players as they join the FIFA 22 Ultimate Team catalog during the Showdown Series promo.
For more FIFA 22, check out our Ultimate Team Fantasy FUT upgrade tracker.
Image Credit: EA
FIFA 22
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team promotion calendar: Every FUT special card
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team has a ton of special cards and promotions to dissect, so we’ve put together a calendar featuring every single one.
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team has already seen its fair share of promotions, and there’s more on the horizon. Here’s a full schedule of every special card we’re expecting to see in FUT this year.
One of the most appealing parts of FIFA 22 Ultimate Team is the constant rollout of fresh promotions and special cards.
Fans were just treated to Team of the Season and Shapeshifters throughout May and June, after Winter Wildcards and TOTY were added to the mode, in addition to FUT Heroes and ICONs in packs all year.
With FIFA 22 content slowly coming to a close, we’ve put together an in-depth calendar and description of every promotion and special card in FIFA 22.
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team promotions
EA likes to keep their cards close to their chest when it comes to promos to keep things surprising at every turn.
That being said, certain special cards have become FUT staples, and return to the mode at a similar time every year.
So while there’s no official full-year schedule, we can look to previous years to come up with a detailed calendar of promotions.
Here is every promo that made its way or will make its way to FIFA 22 Ultimate Team throughout the year.
| Promotion / card name | FIFA 21 start date | Expected FIFA 22 start date | Confirmed |
| Team of the Week | Weekly | Weekly | Yes |
| FUT Heroes | New to FIFA 22 | October 1, 2021 | Yes |
| Ones to Watch | October 6, 2020 | October 1, 2021 | Yes |
| Road to the Knockouts | November 6, 2020 | October 15, 2021 | Yes |
| Rulebreakers | October 23, 2020 | October 29, 2021 | Yes |
| Numbersup | New to FIFA 22 | November 12, 2021 | Yes |
| Signature Signings | New to FIFA 22 | November 26, 2021 | Yes |
| Team of the Group Stage | December 4, 2020 | December 3, 2021 | Yes |
| Versus | New to FIFA 22 | December 10, 2021 | Yes |
| Winter Wildcards | New to FIFA 22 | December 17, 2021 | Yes |
| Headliners | January 1, 2021 | December 31, 2021 | Yes |
| Team of the Year | January 22, 2021 | January 21, 2022 | Yes |
| Future Stars | February 5, 2021 | February 4, 2022 | Yes |
| Road to the Final | December 18, 2020 | February 18, 2022 | Yes |
| Silver Stars Series | N/A | February 25, 2022 | Yes |
| FUT Birthday | March 26, 2021 | March 4, 2022 | Yes |
| Fantasy FUT | N/A | March 18, 2022 | Yes |
| Showdown Series | N/A | April 1, 2022 | Yes |
| FUT Captains | N/A | April 8, 2022 | Yes |
| Team of the Season | April 23, 2021 | April 29, 2022 | Yes |
| Shapeshifters | N/A | June 17, 2022 | Yes |
| FUTTIES | July 16, 2021 | July 8, 2022 | Yes |
Team of the Week
Team of the Week cards have been a staple of Ultimate Team for many years, providing a steady stream of fresh cards based on real-world performances.
Every Wednesday, the best performers from the latest round of domestic or international fixtures are given an upgrade to replace their normal card in packs for that week.
FUT Heroes
FUT Heroes are the first new type of card in FIFA 22, giving a nod to some of the greatest cult figures in world football.
These new cards highlight players who maybe didn’t quite go down in the history of the sport, but made their mark at a specific club.
Ones to Watch
EA’s go-to for kicking off a new season, Ones to Watch cards are dynamic items that could be upgraded consistently throughout the year.
These special cards are awarded to players who have been part of a high-profile move in the latest transfer window and they automatically boost themselves to match the highest-rated TOTW that player has earned.
Road to the Knockouts
Road to the Knockouts is another new promotion for FIFA 22, celebrating the three European competitions clubs can compete during the 2021/22 season – the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
- Read more: When is FIFA 22 coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Chosen players whose teams win three out of their last four group stage games, or qualify for the knockout stages, are given permanent boosts to their cards.
Rulebreakers
FIFA traditionally gets a promotion every Halloween. What started as Ultimate Scream changed into Rulebreakers with FIFA 21.
These cards give big boosts to players, but also fundamentally alter the way they play by swapping around their stats.
Sluggish strikers may lose some finishing ability in favor of pace, while attacking full-backs may become solid defenders.
Numbersup
Numbersup is another brand new promotion for FIFA 22 Ultimate Team, backed by the real-world sportswear brand Adidas.
These special cards are selected by EA, with one stat being chosen for regular upgrades throughout the year at times decided by the developer.
This stat will keep receiving boosts until it reaches the maximum of 99 and becomes one of the game’s top cards.
Signature Signings
Ultimate Team’s Signature Signings are items designed to celebrate some of the most successful transfers in recent years.
These players have made incredible contributions to their new teams and earned a one-time Ultimate Team upgrade as a result.
Team of the Group Stage
While Road to the Knockouts rewards team performance, the Team of the Group stage is all about individual brilliance.
These are one-off special cards given to the top performers across every European tournaments group stage, whether it be a prolific goalscorer or anchor at the back.
Versus
FUT Freeze was such a monumental hit in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team, so it was a bit of a surprise to see it altered in FIFA 22. However, Versus upped the ante by offering two versions of the same stat boosted player.
Instead of just one ‘freeze’ card, there is also a contrasting ‘fire card.’ One player will have two different upgrade cards possible, similar to the Rulebreakers SBC.
Winter Wildcards
EA aren’t afraid to think outside of the box and just when you think you know what to expect from the next promo they deliver a surprise.
The Winter Wildcards promo was heavily inspired by last year’s FUT Freeze. As with most promos, a stat boost is administered to the players involved but strangely enough, only some players were seen in a new position.
Headliners
Headliners is a promotion that celebrates the best players of the season so far and gives them an extremely desirable card.
These dynamic items always stay one rating higher than a player’s highest-rated Team of the Week, meaning they can continue to grow throughout the year.
Team of the Year
The most prestigious and expensive cards in every FUT season, Team of the Year collects a squad of the best players from the previous 12 months and gives them an incredible stat boost. TOTY is only reserved for the best of the best, and 99-rated cards aren’t unusual to see.
This has made them some of the rarest and most overpowered players in Ultimate Team history.
Future Stars
Future Stars is all about the youngsters who are set to light up the world stage in the years to come.
While their base cards might be unusable because of their age, Future Stars cards are a glimpse at what a starlet may look like if they live up to their full potential.
Road to the Final
RTTF is finally making its way to FIFA 22 and thanks to the dynamic player items up for grabs, fans of Ultimate Team are truly excited.
Road to the Finals is designed to highlight players taking part in Europe’s three major club competitions and the players involved in the promo will receive upgrades at select stages from the knockout rounds to the Final.
Silver Stars Series
The Silver Stars Series shifted the focus to Silver cards in FIFA 22. While no new promo cards were added to packs, each day EA released additional Silver Stars cards that were available through either SBCs or Objectives.
These particular Silver cards offered notable upgrades to some players while also highlighting Flashback versions of Marco Reus, Paul Pogba, and Kevin De Bruyne.
FUT Birthday
Every year, EA celebrates Ultimate Team’s birthday with a festival full of quirky cards, SBCs, and objectives.
This is where FIFA looks back at the fan-favorite players who have dominated previous FUT years and brings them back with big upgrades via the FUT Birthday promo.
Fantasy FUT
Fantasy FUT is an updated version of FIFA 21’s What If promo that saw players earn upgrades if their clubs met specific real-life criteria. Fantasy FUT has made it easier for featured players to earn upgrades.
As of April 1, 2022, players can earn upgrades by completing one of the three listed requirements in the next five matches:
- Play 3 matches in the next 5 games
- Win 1 match in the next 5 games
- Attackers and Midfielders score 1 goal or earn 1 assist in 5 games OR Defenders and Goalkeepers keep 1 clean sheet in the next 5 games
Showdown Series
Showdown Series is an entirely new promo concept that arrived in FIFA 22. Much like Silver Stars, it’s a promo that provides special cards through SBCs and Objectives rather than through packs.
The promo will highlight two players from an upcoming football fixture. The outcome of the real-life football match will result in upgrades for the players involved. The winner will receive a +2 upgrade, while a tie will result in a +1 upgrade for both players.
FUT Captains
Yet another brand-new campaign for FIFA 22, FUT Captains places the spotlight on the best skippers both past and present. Some of football’s best-known captains will be given ridiculously juiced cards to place them firmly in the FUT meta.
The FUT Heroes that debuted in FIFA 22 will also see revamp. Despite the positive response to some of the game’s cult heroes making a comeback, they don’t stack up compared to some of the incredible promo cards that have come since.
With FUT Captains, the likes of Robbie Keane and Antonio Di Natale could become viable once again.
Team of the Season
Possibly the most popular promotion in all of FIFA, Team of the Season rewards the best players from every major league for their displays throughout the real football season.
Every week, a new league of TOTS players are placed in packs with massive upgrades from their normal cards.
- Read more: FIFA 23: All new leagues, teams, & stadiums
There are also plenty of SBCs and objectives to complete, as well as a fan-voted team to take part in.
Shapeshifters
The Shapeshifters promo is well-liked by Ultimate Team fans thanks to its unique quality of changing players’ traditional positions. The Shapeshifters promo takes players out of their normal position and opens the door to new squad-building opportunities.
In FIFA 22 the promo is filled with some truly incredible cards like Lionel Messi and Heung Min Son. Furthermore, in addition to position changes and rating increases, players also received upgrades to skill moves and weak foot.
FUTTIES
While most other promotions are based on real-life football, FUTTIES is a victory lap for the current version of FIFA itself.
Throughout the event, meta players who have been popular throughout the year, like Vinicius Junior, Mane, or Ben Yedder, are pitted against each other in fan votes.
The winner is given a heavily upgraded FUTTIES card to help them compete with the hundreds of other special players in everyone’s club.
So there you have it, that was every single promotion and special card we’re expecting to land in FUT this year. EA may well have some more tricks up their sleeve, so stay tuned to Charlie INTEL for the latest updates.
For more on FIFA news, check out our guide to FIFA 23 including leaks, Ultimate Team changes, and details of a World Cup mode.
Image credits: EA
FIFA 22
FIFA 22 FUTTIES: Release date, promo explained, & player leaks
According to FIFA 22 leaks, the FUTTIES promo will be making its way to Ultimate Team shortly along with some of this year’s best cards.
A FIFA 22 leaker has revealed that the FUTTIES promo is returning to Ultimate Team this summer as a victory lap celebrating the game mode’s best cards of the year.
FUTTIES isn’t necessarily the final FIFA 22 Ultimate Team promo, but it will symbolically wrap up the title by celebrating some of the best special cards we’ve seen since launch. Players can expect to get their hands on boosted versions of this year’s best special items as they make their way to packs, SBCs, and Objectives.
FUTTIES provides FIFA 22 players with a rare second chance. You can expect to revisit some of the best promo cards of the year that you may have missed out on the first time around.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ultimate Team’s FUTTIES including an explanation of the promo and the expected release date.
FIFA 22 FUTTIES release date
FUTTIES is expected to hit Ultimate Team on Friday, July 8 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST. According to renowned FIFA leaker FutSheriff, FUTTIES will follow Shapeshifters as the next promo that Ultimate Team players could enjoy.
It was previously suggested that Shapeshifters would receive an uncharacteristic Team 4 following Team 3, but as of now, Sheriff claims that the focus will shift to FUTTIES. We’ll let you know when EA officially confirms the promo’s arrival.
FUTTIES FIFA 22 promo explained
The FUTTIES promo is meant to wrap up the Ultimate Team promo calendar by celebrating the best special items of the year. FIFA 22 brought us some truly amazing cards, so here’s a look at how the promo should work.
For starters, Ultimate Team players will have a chance to vote between two previous special cards on any given day. The player who wins the fan vote will not only receive an upgrade but the card will be made available via SBC.
In addition to incredible SBC and Objectives content, some of the best special items from FUT 22 will be re-released. In FIFA 21 there were three batches of re-released FUTTIES teams that appeared in Ultimate Team packs.
FIFA 22 FUTTIES player leaks
FutSherrif has reliably provided details of leaked promo players throughout the entirety of FIFA 22. The leaker’s coverage of FUTTIES should be no different as players are expected to be revealed prior to the July 8 release.
We’ll keep you posted as more information concerning the FIFA 22 FUTTIES promo comes to light. Given that the promo highlights previous special cards that were already in the game, leaks may be difficult to come by, but we’ll update this section accordingly.
For more FIFA news, check out our guide to Ultimate Team in FIFA 23 including new features & expected changes.
Image Credit: EA Sports
FIFA 22
FIFA 23 Bundesliga ratings: Every team’s best players predictions
The Bundesliga is expected to supply some of the best players in FIFA 23, so we’ve predicted who will have the highest rating for each club.
The Bundesliga will be the battleground for some of FIFA 23’s highest-rated stars, with players from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund set to impact Ultimate Team. Here are our predictions for the top Bundesliga ratings in FIFA 23, as well as every team’s best players.
Each new FIFA title brings new Ultimate Team ratings based on player performances in the previous season, and FIFA 23 will be no different. To discern which players are deserving of an upgrade or downgrade, EA will analyze the 2021/2022 season.
In Germany, the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season saw Bayern Munich cruise to a tenth straight title. The battle for Champions League spots was a fierce one as Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and RB Leipzig should all expect player rating upgrades in FIFA 23.
But who will be the best players in the Bundesliga? We’ve put together our predictions for the top 10 highest-rated Bundesliga players in FIFA 23, and highlighted the best players from each club.
- FIFA 23 Bundesliga top 10 player rating predictions
- FIFA 23 Bundesliga rating predictions: Every team’s best players
FIFA 23 Bundesliga top 10 player rating predictions
| Player | Club | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | – | 92 |
| Sadio Mane | Bayern Munich | +1 | 90 |
| Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | +1 | 90 |
| Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich | -1 | 89 |
| Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich | – | 87 |
| Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich | -1 | 86 |
| Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich | – | 86 |
| Filip Kostic | Eintracht Frankfurt | +2 | 86 |
| Koen Casteels | Wolfsburg | -1 | 85 |
| Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig | +4 | 85 |
It’s been quiet summer so far when it comes to Bundesliga transfers. However, things in Germany can still heat up with the summer transfer window open until September 1.
All eyes will be on Bayern Munich as they look to keep a hold of disgruntled star striker Robert Lewandowski. At this moment, the striker is attempting to force a move to Barcelona, but if he remains, there’s no doubt he’ll be the highest-rated FIFA 23 player in the Bundesliga.
Bayern dominates the predicted list of top ten Bundesliga players in FIFA 23. The illustrious German club won ten Bundesliga titles in a row and they’re the clear powerhouse option to pick up an eleventh straight title in 2023.
Elsewhere, Filip Kostic enjoyed a fantastic season in which Frankfurt secured a Europa League trophy. FIFA 22 delivered a whopping ten separate special Christopher Nkunku cards and the midfielder’s performances should see him rise to 84 or 85 in FIFA 23.
FIFA 23 Bundesliga rating predictions: Every team’s best players
The Bundesliga is dominated by Bayern Munich players when it comes to landing a player in the top 10. Nonetheless, it’s still fascinating to see how EA upgrades and downgrades players from across Germany with each new title. In the 2021/2022 season, every team had both surprises and disappointments that should be reflected when FIFA 23 is released.
With this in mind, we’ve made our predictions for every Bundesliga club’s top three players in FIFA 23:
Augsburg
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Daniel Caligiuri | +2 | 79 |
| Niklas Dorsch | +2 | 77 |
| Iago | +1 | 76 |
Bayer Leverkusen
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Moussa Diaby | +2 | 83 |
| Florian Wirtz | +3 | 81 |
| Patrik Schick | +1 | 80 |
Bayern Munich
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Robert Lewandowski | – | 92 |
| Sadio Mane | +1 | 90 |
| Joshua Kimmich | +1 | 90 |
Bochum
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Danilo | +2 | 77 |
| Manuel Riemann | – | 74 |
| Anthony Losilla | +1 | 73 |
Borussia Dortmund
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Mats Hummels | -1 | 85 |
| Marco Reus | – | 85 |
| Raphael Guerreiro | – | 84 |
Borussia Monchengladbach
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Yan Sommer | -1 | 84 |
| Matthias Ginter | -1 | 83 |
| Florian Neuhaus | +1 | 83 |
Eintracht Frankfurt
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Filip Kostic | +2 | 86 |
| Kevin Trapp | +2 | 84 |
| Martin Hinteregger | +1 | 81 |
FC Koln
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Jonas Hector | +1 | 79 |
| Ellyes Skhiri | +1 | 78 |
| Salih Ozcan | +2 | 75 |
Freiburg
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Christian Gunter | +2 | 81 |
| Vincenzo Grifo | +1 | 80 |
| Ritsu Doan | +1 | 77 |
Hertha BSC
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Dedryck Boyata | -1 | 77 |
| Kevin-Prince Boateng | -1 | 77 |
| Marc-Oliver Kempf | – | 76 |
Hoffenheim
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Andrej Kramaric | -1 | 82 |
| Oliver Baumann | -2 | 80 |
| David Raum | +5 | 78 |
Mainz
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Silvan Widmer | +1 | 76 |
| Dominik Kohr | +1 | 76 |
| Jeremiah St. Juste | -1 | 75 |
RB Leipzig
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Christopher Nkunku | +4 | 85 |
| Peter Gulacsi | -1 | 84 |
| Angelino | – | 83 |
Schalke 04
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Simon Terodde | +2 | 77 |
| Ko Itakura | +1 | 75 |
| Thomas Ouwejan | +2 | 74 |
Union Berlin
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Christopher Trimmel | +2 | 79 |
| Robin Knoche | +1 | 77 |
| Jordan Siebatcheu | +2 | 74 |
VfB Stuttgart
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Wataru Endo | +1 | 79 |
| Borna Sosa | +1 | 78 |
| Konstantinos Mavropanos | +3 | 76 |
Werder Bremen
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Jiri Pavlenka | -1 | 79 |
| Niclas Fullkrug | – | 76 |
| Leonardo Bittencourt | – | 75 |
Wolfsburg
| Player Name | Upgrade / Downgrade | Rating |
| Koen Casteels | -1 | 85 |
| Max Kruse | – | 81 |
| Ridle Baku | +1 | 81 |
EA are yet to reveal the full slate of Bundesliga ratings in FIFA 23. As soon as they do, we’ll be sure to update this page with the latest information.
For more on FIFA 23 player ratings, be sure to check out our rating predictions for the Premier League and Serie A.
Image credits: EA Sports / Bundesliga
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team promotion calendar: Every FUT special card
FIFA 22 Ultimate Team has a ton of special cards and promotions to dissect, so we've put together a calendar...
CoD Warzone 2: Leaks, rumors, platforms & release window
Activision are developing Warzone 2, so here's everything we know about the sequel to CoD's popular battle royale.
Battlefield 2042 Update 1.1 patch notes: Vehicle changes, DMR rebalancing, XP events, more
DICE are delivering the Season 1 Update 1.1 for Battlefield 2042’s first update of the season and here's a look...