FIFA 22 First Impressions - New Keepers and Reworked Gameplay
Sep 29, 2021, by Pat
Over the past few days we had the to get our hands on the brand-new FIFA 22. In this post we will detail our first impressions, focusing mostly on gameplay. Please note that this review covers the "old gen" PC version of the game.
When you boot up a game of FIFA 22 the reduced pace is immediately noticeable. Various basic actions such as passes and players accelerating have been clearly slowed down to produce slower gameplay.
While we're talking about gameplay, it's not only slower but the players and ball seem to have increased in size and there's less space available on the pitch as a result. It's now much more difficult to just pass your way through the center of the pitch. If you plan on just pining balls into the frontline, you will have to a be lot more careful here.
Physical duels are now more easily to pull off as a defender while attackers accelerate more slowly and have a worse close control at sprint speed, which makes it easier to defend such moves.
Reworked goalkeepers
The second obvious change on the pitch are goalkeepers, which have undergone a complete rework.
First off, this should be applauded as goalkeepers before were far from good even if not entirely broken. The new keepers are much more capable of saving most shots, although there are some situations were they make unexplainable errors - sometimes it seems have if the wrong animation is playing and they have subsequently have no chance of getting near the shot. But most of the time they are much more competent about saving regular shots and cannot be beaten as easily as was the case in 21. EA absolutely need to fix how they interact with high diagonal shots, though.
As a result, the new detailed stats, which should be helpful in finding weaknesses in your game and include a plethora of a new metrics can sometimes show Expected Goals (xG) values that far exceeds the number of goals scored. It's of course also possible that a bit more practice is needed to fully adjust to the new keepers and return to scoring more reliably.
New stats
There are more gameplay changes, all with the aim of creating a more realistic experience overall. CPU-controlled team-mates will now be much more active in the defensive phase and it's important to choose the right passes or they can get cut short very easily, even if the opponent is not controlling the intercepting defender. Midfielders will now also drop a fair bit deeper and the penalty box and area in front of it can get very crowded if the attack doesn't advance quick enough.
Another clear change was made to low crosses, which were nerved in various ways. They are not as fast and accurate anymore, resulting shots are much weaker and goalkeepers don't spill them as frequently.
One thing that's neat about the PC version is that it now detects the type of controller you've selected and displays the correct buttons in the menu. This includes PlayStation controllers whereas previously the Xbox buttons were exclusively used in menus on the system.
There's now also more visible feedback and a sort of cooldown when using "team-mate pressing", which shows as a triangle above the currently pressing player's head. It will start green and slowly deplete before turning red as a player uses up all short-term stamina.
If you think that this seems like a lot of changes, you can be assured that under the hood it's still using the same foundations as FIFA 21 and in the grand scheme of things all of the changes, while immediately noticeable, are still more on a surface level. Experienced FIFA 21 players should feel right at home with 22 as well.
These are our first impressions on FIFA 22. We hope you liked appreciate them and come back for our full review, where we dive into Career Mode and FUT with more attention to the details of those modes. We will also continue to evaluate the on-pitch gameplay in order to provide a more definitive judgment on that as well.
Nick Woltemade Spotted in Camouflaged Adidas F50 Boots Disguised as Predator 26
German forward Nick Woltemade has once again caught the attention of boot spotters following his loan switch to Juventus for the 26-27 season. In training sessions with the Bianconeri, the 24-year-old was seen wearing a bespoke pair of Adidas boots featuring a clever optical illusion: a laceless Adidas F50 speed boot disguised as a Predator 26. Big thanks to sr4u.
At first glance, the footwear mimics the visual language of the Predator silo, complete with simulated rubber strike elements and bold graphic patterning. A closer look, however, immediately reveals the telltale silhouette of the laceless F50. The boots feature the aerodynamic shape, seamless upper, and lightweight sole plate of the speed boot, with the Predator rubber fins merely printed onto the smooth synthetic shell rather than physically present.
This is not the first time Woltemade has turned heads with this specific setup. He was previously spotted in similar disguised F50 boots while on international duty with Germany earlier this year. Custom camouflage of this variety typically occurs when a player relies on the lightweight build and locked-in feel of a speed silo while marketing alignment or personal styling favors the identity of another line.
CA Peñarol 2026 135th Anniversary Kit Released - Honoring CURCC Roots
Puma and Uruguayan giants Club Atlético Peñarol have officially unveiled a special commemorative kit celebrating the club's 135th anniversary. Founded on September 28, 1891, as the Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club (CURCC), Peñarol traditionally honors its rich history each September with a bespoke commemorative release.
The Peñarol 2026 135th anniversary shirt takes direct inspiration from the early uniforms worn during the team's formative years. It features a distinctive half-and-half layout, combining a solid black left side with thin yellow and black vertical stripes running down the right. The long sleeves mirror the split design of the body, complemented by a classic black polo collar detailed with subtle yellow trim.
Completing the heritage aesthetic, a retro CURCC shield encircled by golden laurel branches replaces the club's contemporary badge on the chest. The reverse side features vintage stitched-effect white numbering and the historic Decano inscription above the player name, while all sponsor logos appear in gold.
Sporting Cristal 26-27 Special Kit Released
Puma and Peruvian powerhouse Sporting Cristal have officially launched a special retro kit for the 26-27 season. The limited-edition release pays homage to one of the most celebrated eras in the club's history, faithfully reviving their iconic look from the early 1970s.
The Puma Sporting Cristal 26-27 special jersey comes in a rich royal blue base, contrasted by clean white trim along the crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Presented in an authentic long-sleeve cut, the shirt prominently features the club's vintage crest on the left chest, complete with the Peruvian flag motif across the top. With a subtle Puma cat logo and the total absence of front-of-shirt sponsors, the kit maintains an ultra-clean, collector-focused aesthetic reminiscent of the 1970 and 1972 title-winning teams.
The new special shirt joins Sporting Cristal's 2026 wardrobe alongside the previously launched home kit and vibrant geometric third strip, offering fans a timeless piece of club heritage.
FC Tokyo 26-27 Third Kit Released
J1 League club FC Tokyo has officially revealed its new 26-27 third kit produced by New Balance. Following the club's full collection unveiled earlier in the summer, the new third uniform builds on the overarching dawn theme with a distinct design concept titled "THE BORDERLESS BALANCE".
The New Balance FC Tokyo 26-27 third shirt combines New Balance's signature gray tone with deep navy to capture the transition from night to dawn over the capital. Subtle red gradient streaks emerge along the shoulders and bottom hem, adding a dynamic accent to the dark base. All sponsor logos and the FC Tokyo crest are applied in clean monochrome white, creating a sleek lifestyle-friendly look.
FC Tokyo will debut the 26-27 third kit in J1 League action in February 2027 against V-Varen Nagasaki and JEF United Chiba.
No More Hummel: Stimulus Puerto Rico 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
The Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) has officially launched its new home and away kits for the 26-27 cycle, marking the beginning of a technical partnership with American sportswear brand Stimulus Athletic. The Minneapolis-based custom kit maker takes over the apparel duties for El Huracán Azul, officially replacing previous supplier Hummel.
The new home shirt boasts a bold geometric pattern in deep blue and black shades, inspired by the historic cobblestones of Old San Juan alongside the luminous glow of Puerto Rico's world-famous bioluminescent bays. The striking mosaic extends across the entire front and sleeves, complemented by subtle teal accents along the collar and cuff trims. Black shorts and blue socks complete the primary uniform.
In contrast, the away jersey provides a crisp white design adorned with details drawn directly from the national flag. It features dynamic red striping down the flanks that fades into a digital gradient towards the hem, flanked by cyan and red accents on the collar and sleeve cuffs. Both shirts are available for $80 through the official FPF online store, alongside dedicated goalkeeper versions.
Official 26-27 TV Scoreboard Of Top European Competitions
Following the start of the 26-27 season, we have had a complete view over every official TV scoreboard of the biggest European competitions. Though there are mostly no changes, we can see how many of the top leagues are adapting the current trend of minimalistic designs.
Join us to take a look at current scoreboard graphics from Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League. Huge thanks to our partner @whatthekit_x for amazing compilation.
