Most kids aren't just playing "Kick-Off" mode against the computer. They are playing Ultimate Team.

Think of Ultimate Team like a digital version of Pokémon cards mixed with a fantasy sports league. You start with a team of "bronze" players you've never heard of, and you play matches to earn coins. You use those coins (or real money) to buy "Packs." These packs are the heart of the game. They contain random players, and the rush of "opening a pack" to see if you got a "walk-out" (a high-rated player like Erling Haaland or Jude Bellingham) is a massive dopamine hit.

This is where the "entrepreneurship" vs. "bank account draining" debate lives. Some kids get really into the "market"—buying low, selling high, and managing their digital assets. Other kids just see a shiny pack and want to "rip" it, which is where the Robux-style spending starts.

Learn more about the psychology of loot boxes and digital collectibles

Let’s be real: Ultimate Team is "gambling-lite." You are paying for a chance to get a good player. The odds of pulling a top-tier card are often less than 1%.

EA has been under a lot of fire for this. In some countries, these mechanics are actually regulated like gambling. In the U.S., they are just called "microtransactions." If your kid is prone to impulsive spending or has an addictive personality, this mode is the danger zone.

The game also uses "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) aggressively. They release "Special Cards" that are only available for a weekend. If your kid doesn't get them now, they’re gone. This creates a "grind" where kids feel like they have to play every Friday night to keep up with their friends.

The latest version. It includes a new mode called "Rush," which is a 5v5 fast-paced game. It’s actually great because it’s shorter and less stressful than the full 90-minute matches. Read our full guide on FC 25

If you want the "beautiful game" without the "beautifully expensive" loot boxes, this is the one. It’s soccer with cars. It’s high-skill, purely cosmetic spending (mostly), and generally much "cleaner" for younger kids. Check out Rocket League

For the younger crowd (Ages 7-10), this is a blast. It’s chaotic, funny, and has zero "real world" pressure. It’s just Mario and friends playing soccer with power-ups. Mario Strikers on Switch

Ages 7-10: Keep them in "Career Mode" or "Kick-Off." This is the offline version where they can lead their favorite team to the World Cup. Avoid Ultimate Team entirely. At this age, the "pack opening" videos they see on YouTube from creators like iShowSpeed can make them feel like they're missing out on something "everyone" has.

Ages 11-14: This is peak FC 25 age. They will want to play online. This is the time to have the "Budget Talk." If they want to spend money on FC Points, it should come from their allowance, and you should have a hard cap.

Ages 15+: They likely know the mechanics better than you do. The focus here is on digital wellness. Are they "raging"? The "FIFA Rage" is a real phenomenon where players get so frustrated with the game's physics (or "scripting") that they break controllers. If the game isn't fun anymore, it’s time for a break.

Ask our chatbot for a screen time contract template for gamers

While the money is the big one, there are two other things to keep on your radar:

You might hear your kid screaming that the game is "scripted." This is a long-standing conspiracy theory in the FIFA community that the game decides who wins to keep players engaged (and spending money). While EA denies this, the belief in it causes a lot of frustration.

When your kid says "The game is cheating!" they are experiencing a very modern form of sports frustration. It’s a good entry point to talk about resilience and how software isn't always perfect.

Instead of "Why are you playing that soccer game again?", try these:

Check out our guide on how to talk to kids about microtransactions

EA Sports FC 25 is a high-quality, deeply engaging sports simulator. It’s not "bad" for kids, but it is designed by a multi-billion dollar corporation to be as "sticky" and profitable as possible.

If you treat it like a hobby that requires a budget and boundaries, it’s a great way for kids to connect with the sport they love. If you leave the credit card attached to the console and walk away, you’re going to have a bad time.

Next Steps:

Ask our chatbot how to set up parental controls on Xbox