FIFA 18 - Footy Headlines Review
Oct 8, 2017, by Pat
Over the past week, we were able to check out the new FIFA 18, released last Friday, in order to provide you with an extensive overview of all modes, new gameplay features and everything else important about FIFA 18. First, we tested the Demo and its features, while we got a digital copy of the game on release day thanks to EA.
Gameplay
First and foremost, a few things about the feel of FIFA 18. After FIFA 17, which was a bit more fast paced and easier to defend on, EA have overhauled the game especially on the offensive side of things. As you'll have noticed playing demo or full game, for example, scoring got easier, in particular on long shots - both due to 'improved' shooting ability and perhaps a lack of goalkeeping skill. Otherwise, FIFA 18 incorporates different play styles for different player types and even has own movement for top-notch players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Neymar.
When talking about modern-day soccer simulations, one thing always catches my attention - the passing assistance. By default, an assistance is implemented which automatically delivers the ball to your teammate, given you pull the trigger in the approximate right direction with any amount of power, which makes it a lot easier to spin the ball around and the generally increases the pace of the game Even when playing with teams with 3 stars or less, passes are delivered at pinpoint precision, given that assistance is activated. It does not feel realistic at all and noticeably reduces the skill gap in the game. There's also semi assistance (supports power of pass, but direction only changes slightly) and manual (no assistance for direction or power), but especially online using those is not exactly popular as it greatly reduces the chances of winning against those playing on the default setup. Unfortunately, this leads to a more unrealistic, less varied and stale experience, at least in my opinion.
When taking a look at the CPU, EA incorporated more variety of its attacking play but also ditched out his affinity to turn around in a circle when you try to win the ball. The CPU still shields the ball excellently on higher difficulty levels but does not rely on it as much as before. Due to the fact that attacking play got easier, I've personally only lost one game against the highest difficulty level in approximately 30 games as you are able to checkmate the CPU with fast counter-attacks and deadly through passes.
Another key change in gameplay is the improvement of balls into the box of all kind. Computer-controlled players now move more intelligently and are more likely to win an aerial duel against defenders. This is both because the quality of deliveries into the box is improved and because attackers now perform better in these duels.
All in all, EA have tried to make the game appear more realistic which resulted in a smoother flow of play and in being able to execute different attacking styles - be it with through balls over the defense or by trying to combine your way into the attacking zone. In conclusion, FIFA 18 is more balanced but still has its weaknesses, something that will hopefully be ruled out through gameplay patches over the next few months - a first update was already released after just six days with the full game.
Licenses
For FIFA 18 the only important license addition is the 3. Liga from Germany with all 20 teams fully licensed and equipped. On the other hand, FIFA also lost one league license (Brazilian league with generic player names) and continues to miss out on an awful lot of national teams (Croatia, Serbia, Japan, Ghana...) as well as East European club teams competing in Champions or Europa League (e.g. Qarabağ, Maribor, APOEL, Partizan Belgrade, Ludogorets).
Considering the fact that FIFA has full leagues from countries like Belgium, Columbia or South Korea, it is a big bummer that not many national teams are included nor if included licensed (South America) and big traditional clubs from Eastern Europe, such as Partizan or Red Star Belgrade are not included as well. These teams, known for their fiery atmosphere, something EA promotes heavily this year, could have made excellent additions to the game.
Career Mode
This year, EA put a lot of effort into the career mode which was untouched the past couple of years. For FIFA 18, they have included an all-new transfer system that is available the throughout the entire year with transfers happening in the respective windows. Players can now have a release clause, request bonuses for achievements (goals, appearances...) and you as manager have the full ability to negotiate terms with respective clubs and players.
By changing this detail of career mode it got more realistic when talking about a transfer. Unfortunately, this is more a visual update than anything else. It's still way too easy to stack up on high potential youngsters as teams are happy to offload them in total disregard to their potential.
The Journey
Personally, I feel like The Journey is the most refreshing and exciting mode of FIFA for years to come. In The Journey, you become Alex Hunter, a virtual talent predestined to live through misery and success. With the addition of cinematic cut scenes and being able to answer on your own, you decide what kind of player you become and can even influence decisive moments which impact The Journey's outcome. Very staggering and written with a good, reasonable plot.
Online
Online, you still have the choice between Ultimate Team, Seasons - with or without a friend of yours - Friendlies and Pro Clubs. In Ultimate Team, you create your own football team at best consisting of players that harmonize, Seasons is just an Online Mode to play with normal club and national teams in a league system, while you have your own alter ego to only play with in Pro Clubs.
Ultimate Team, the by far most successful and profitable mode for Electronic Arts, has improved a lot. You can now play Squad Battles, where you challenge squads of other players from across the globe against a CPU level of your choice. Dependent on your rank in the system, you get better equipment the higher you are on a weekly basis.
The general feel of FIFA 18 online is fluid and smooth, while the game is also more fast paced online and especially in Ultimate Team. Personally, I have not had a single connection loss but feel free to share your own experience in the comments down below.
Verdict
With FIFA 18, EA has once again outperformed themselves and provided us with a solid, more realistic and graphically better experience. Arch Rival PES still has a lot of work to do. 4.5/5
Do you agree with our verdict? Have anything to add? Comment below, and check out our PES 2018 review as well.
This review was conducted on the PS4 version of the game.
Puma Ultraweave Kits Continue to Tear at 2026 World Cup
During the 2026 World Cup, Puma kits have become a major talking point due to a series of high-profile tearing incidents. Across the first four rounds of the tournament, six different shirts have ripped during matches. Players from the Czech Republic, Paraguay, Egypt, and Morocco have all experienced torn jerseys following physical challenges and shirt-pulling on the pitch. Notably, kits from other manufacturers have not suffered from similar durability issues during the competition. Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn.
The root of the problem lies in the construction of the Puma Ultraweave fabric. Designed to be incredibly lightweight at just 72 grams, the material features a four-way stretch recycled polyester blend. While the brand states this ultra-light design was driven by player feedback to reduce weight and drag, the extremely thin fabric has proven highly vulnerable to tearing under the stress of grabbing and pulling in a high-contact sport.
With the knockout stages underway, the durability of the Puma kits remains a concern. Several Puma-sponsored nations are still competing in the tournament, including Austria, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, and Switzerland. As the stakes get higher and matches become more physical, fans and kit enthusiasts will be watching to see if the Ultraweave fabric can hold up to the pressure of international football.
Machida Zelvia 2026-27 Home, Away & Goalkeeper Kits Released
The new Machida Zelvia home, away and goalkeeper shirts for the 2026-27 season have been released. Made by Adidas, the new kits will be worn in the upcoming J1 League campaign, which marks the league's transition to an autumn-spring calendar.
The Adidas Machida Zelvia 2026-27 home shirt features a deep blue base, highlighted by a geometric 'Pulse of Machida' graphic across the front. Gold accents on the collar, the signature Adidas Three Stripes, and the sponsor logos, including main sponsor CyberAgent, complete the design.
The Adidas Machida Zelvia 2026-27 away and goalkeeper kits have also been unveiled, rounding out the club's collection for the new season. The 2026-27 home kit is currently available to purchase for club members.
V-Varen Nagasaki 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
V-Varen Nagasaki have officially unveiled their new home and away kits for the 2026-27 season. Made by Fanatics, the new shirts will be worn in the upcoming J1 League campaign, marking the Japanese top flight's transition to a new fall-spring calendar.
The Fanatics V-Varen Nagasaki 2026-27 home shirt features a bespoke design in the club's traditional colors. The away shirt offers a clean contrasting look, while the goalkeeper kits round off the collection with their own distinct colorways. All shirts carry the Fanatics logo on the right chest alongside the V-Varen Nagasaki crest on the left.
The Fanatics V-Varen Nagasaki 2026-27 home and away kits are available to purchase via the club's official online store.
Cancún FC 26-27 'Dark Cenote' Special Kit Released
Mexican club Cancún FC has unveiled its new 2026-27 'Dark Cenote' special kit, made by Adidas. This release serves as a dark counterpart to the club's recently announced 'Cenote' third kit and made its on-pitch debut on July 3, 2026.
The Adidas Cancún FC 2026-27 'Dark Cenote' special jersey features a predominantly dark base design. It pays homage to the state of Quintana Roo and the natural network of cenotes that have united the Mexican Caribbean for thousands of years. The dark color scheme offers a contrasting alternative to the lighter standard third shirt while maintaining the same thematic inspiration.
The Adidas Cancún FC 2026-27 'Dark Cenote' special kit is available to purchase through the club's official physical and online stores. It is a limited edition release and will only be available until current stock runs out.
Newport County 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new Newport County 2026-27 home kit was officially released. It is made by VX3 and will be worn in the upcoming League Two campaign.
The VX3 Newport County 2026-27 home shirt features the club's traditional amber base color, paired with black detailing. As a tribute to the club's history and identity, the design incorporates the names of all 25 hall of fame members, which are woven into the amber fabric of the shirt.
Newport Galvanizers will feature as the official sleeve sponsor for the home shirt during the 2026-27 season. The VX3 Newport County 2026-27 home jersey is currently available for pre-order.
Official: Le Havre Announces Hummel Kit Deal - No More Umbro
French club Le Havre AC has officially announced Hummel as its new kit supplier, starting from the 2026-27 season. This confirms previous reports of the club ending its short-lived partnership with Umbro after just one season.
The official announcement emphasizes the fusion of both brands' rich histories and a deep respect for Le Havre's traditional sky blue and navy colors. Hummel takes over following the bankruptcy of Umbro's French distributor, Royer, which caused significant delivery issues during the previous campaign.
Fans have shared their excitement for the new partnership across social media, anticipating stylish designs that honor the club's heritage. The first Hummel Le Havre kits for the 2026-27 season are expected to be unveiled shortly.
Nike Mamba FC Barcelona 26-27 Away Kit Leaked + Shorts
Footy Headlines can now leak the new official pictures of the Mamba Barcelona 26-27 away kit, including shorts.
The Nike Mamba FC Barcelona 2026-27 away jersey features a purple and black gradient base with gold/iridescent logos and applications.
The kit features the famous quote: “Leave the game better than you found it” inside the collar.
Union Berlin 26-27 Away Lifestyle Collection Leaked
An exclusive leak via @Bundesleaker has revealed the first look at the Union Berlin 2026-27 Originals collection. The new item is part of an upcoming retro-inspired lifestyle collection for the Bundesliga club.
The Adidas Union Berlin 2026-27 OG collection features a clean and classic design in predominantly black. It prominently displays the Trefoil logo, fitting the vintage aesthetic of the Originals line. According to the leaker, while the colors are completely accurate, the final club crest used on the longsleeve could still be subject to minor changes.
Fortuna Köln 26-27 Third Kit Released
SC Fortuna Köln and Dutch sportswear brand Robey have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Designed for the upcoming Regionalliga West campaign, the shirt returns to a classic yellow and black colorway. This traditional look pays homage to the club's founding and their stint in the 3. Liga between 2013 and 2020.
This launch follows the release of a special-edition Robey kit for the 2026 Mittelrheinpokal final earlier in the year. That exclusive jersey featured a tri-color gradient, fading from navy blue to light blue and finishing with a white lower half. It also included metallic gold accents on the manufacturer branding, the central sponsor, and a classic retro crest.
Rochdale 26-27 Home Kit Released
Following the announcement of a multi-year partnership extension with O'Neills, Rochdale AFC have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 home kit. Described by the club as an instant classic, the new strip was launched with a special photoshoot at the historic Rochdale Pioneers Museum and is available to purchase both in-store and online starting July 4.
The O'Neills Rochdale 2026-27 home shirt features a retro-inspired design, combining the club's traditional blue base with a white trim that incorporates distinctive red and black arrows. A classic collar adds to the vintage aesthetic, while long-standing sponsor Crown Oil is prominently displayed on the front. Blue shorts and socks complete the O'Neills Rochdale AFC 2026-27 home kit.
NK Radomlje 2026-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Slovenian PrvaLiga club NK Radomlje have released their new home and away kits for the 2026-27 season. Made by Joma, the new shirts will be worn in the upcoming domestic campaign.
The Joma NK Radomlje 2026-27 home and away jerseys introduce clean designs for the club, keeping in line with their traditional colors. While official club channels have yet to formally announce the kits, images have surfaced online showcasing the new strips. This release aligns with Joma's broader rollout of new kits for various European clubs around the same period.
The new NK Radomlje 2026-27 home and away kits are expected to be available to purchase through the club's official retail channels ahead of the new season.