Konami turned Pro Evolution Soccer into eFootball, a free download that updates in place rather than shipping a new release every autumn. Dream Team is the centre of it: you sign current players and legends with GP or eFootball Coins, then climb the divisions of the eFootball League. Weekly Live Updates rewrite ratings from real world results, so form on the pitch feeds straight into your squad.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Dream Team | Playing Styles per position basics | Creative Playmaker | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | eFootball League | Team Playstyles in Game Plan mastery | Creative Playmaker | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Authentic Team | Player Skills + gear | Goal Poacher or Creative Playmaker | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Tour Events | Build optimization | Goal Poacher | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Friend Match | Min-max | Goal Poacher or Full-back Finisher | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Dream Team)
The core mode. You build a squad from signed players and managers, using GP earned through play or eFootball Coins, and it is the only place most competitive content is available.
Level/Difficulty: Open from the start Key Rewards: Player contracts, manager contracts, GP, progression items
What to Do in Dream Team
- Learn Playing Styles per position. Each player carries one Playing Style that drives his off ball movement, such as Goal Poacher sitting on the last defender's shoulder or Anchor Man refusing to leave the space in front of the back four. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Creative Playmaker as your starting role. See our builds guide for why.
- Choose your manager before you spend GP on players. The manager sets the formation and the instructions your squad can run, and a set of expensive signings in the wrong shape performs worse than cheaper players in the right one.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Through Passing or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Playing Styles per position fundamentals
- Creative Playmaker selected and functional
- Dream Team main content cleared
- Ready for eFootball League
Phase 2: Early Game (eFootball League)
The ranked, division based ladder your Dream Team competes in across seasons. Higher divisions pay noticeably better in GP and coins than the lower ones.
Level/Difficulty: Division based, seasonal reset Key Rewards: Division rewards, seasonal placement prizes, GP and coins
What to Do in eFootball League
- Work on Team Playstyles in Game Plan. Five Team Playstyles sit under Game Plan and Tactics: Possession Game, Quick Counter, Long Ball Counter, Out Wide and Long Ball. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Through Passing if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Playing Style matters more than overall rating for most positions. A Goal Poacher who runs the shoulder of the last defender will out score a higher rated Target Man in a Quick Counter side, because the movement is what creates the chance.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Authentic Team.
- Consider whether Goal Poacher might suit your playstyle better than Creative Playmaker.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Team Playstyles in Game Plan integrated into gameplay
- Through Passing acquired
- eFootball League fully cleared
- Ready for Authentic Team
Phase 3: Mid Game (Authentic Team)
Ready made real clubs and national sides, played against the AI in Exhibition, which is the renamed Trial Match, or online against friends. Every licensed club and national side is available here.
Level/Difficulty: No progression requirement Key Rewards: Practice with real squads, tactical experimentation, no card cost
What to Do in Authentic Team
- Master Player Skills. More than forty skills split across Shooting, Passing, Dribbling, Defending, Goalkeeping and Other. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Chip Shot Control. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Match your Team Playstyle to the cards you actually own. Possession Game needs technical passers in midfield, Quick Counter needs speed on both flanks, and Long Ball needs a striker who can win a header under pressure.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Dream Team squad building for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Player Skills mastered
- Chip Shot Control acquired or in progress
- Authentic Team fully cleared
- Ready for Tour Events
Phase 4: Late Game (Tour Events)
Time limited tournaments and challenge series that rotate through the season, giving objectives and prizes outside the league ladder.
Level/Difficulty: Varies by event entry conditions Key Rewards: Event exclusive players, GP, training items
What to Do in Tour Events
- Finalize your build. You should be running Goal Poacher or Creative Playmaker with optimized gear.
- Chip Shot Control should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Check Live Update before making changes. Ratings shift weekly from real world form and transfers, and a boosted card in good form frequently outperforms a nominally stronger one on your bench.
- Live Update ratings optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Friend Match.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Chip Shot Control upgraded to max
- Tour Events fully cleared
- Ready for Friend Match
Phase 5: Endgame (Friend Match)
Custom online rooms for playing people you know, supporting anything from one against one up to three against three co-op with cross platform matchmaking.
Level/Difficulty: Any squad strength Key Rewards: No ranking impact, co-op practice, custom rule testing
What to Do in Friend Match
- Friend Match tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Read a Playing Style's position compatibility before signing. Cross Specialist only works on a wide player and Anchor Man only on a defensive midfielder, so a card played out of position loses the behaviour you paid for.
- The endgame loop: run Friend Match, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Full-back Finisher for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Live Update ratings mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Friend Match fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Signing high rated players whose Playing Style does not fit the manager's formation
- Setting Quick Counter with a slow midfield, so every turnover dies before it reaches the final third
- Ignoring Live Update and fielding a card whose real world form has collapsed
- Putting a Cross Specialist or Anchor Man in a position his style does not support
- Spending GP evenly across every position instead of building two or three genuine strengths
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Choose your manager before you spend GP on players. The manager sets the formation and the instructions your squad can run, and a set of expensive signings in the wrong shape performs worse than cheaper players in the right one.
- Playing Style matters more than overall rating for most positions. A Goal Poacher who runs the shoulder of the last defender will out score a higher rated Target Man in a Quick Counter side, because the movement is what creates the chance.
- Match your Team Playstyle to the cards you actually own. Possession Game needs technical passers in midfield, Quick Counter needs speed on both flanks, and Long Ball needs a striker who can win a header under pressure.
- Check Live Update before making changes. Ratings shift weekly from real world form and transfers, and a boosted card in good form frequently outperforms a nominally stronger one on your bench.
- Read a Playing Style's position compatibility before signing. Cross Specialist only works on a wide player and Anchor Man only on a defensive midfielder, so a card played out of position loses the behaviour you paid for.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More eFootball Guides
- eFootball eFootball Overview
- eFootball Best Builds
- eFootball Tier List
- eFootball Beginner's Guide
- eFootball Tips & Tricks
- eFootball Weapons Guide
- eFootball Combat Guide
- eFootball Boss Guide
- eFootball Maps & Locations
- eFootball Crafting Guide
- eFootball Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy eFootball, check out these related guides:
- Beat the Champions Walkthrough: sports game with similar mechanics
- Rocket League Walkthrough: sports game with similar mechanics
- Football Manager 2024 Walkthrough: sports game with similar mechanics
