You’re looking for the Soccer Aid team in FC 25 and coming up empty. It’s annoying. Every year, EA Sports handles the partnership with the world’s biggest charity football match a little differently, and if you’ve spent the last twenty minutes scrolling through the "Rest of World" league menu, you’re probably wondering if they forgot to include it this time around.
They didn't.
But Soccer Aid FC 25 isn't exactly where you think it is. Usually, when people talk about Soccer Aid in the context of the new EA Sports FC title, they’re looking for that massive roster of Icons—Ronaldinho, Pelé, Zidane, and Beckham—all stuffed into one squad. It's the ultimate "cheat code" team for Kick-Off matches against your mates. Yet, there’s a specific way to trigger its appearance, and there are some weird quirks about who is actually on the pitch this year.
The Mystery of the Missing Rest of World Squad
So, here is the deal. In previous editions, Soccer Aid was a permanent fixture under the "Rest of World" tab. You’d scroll past the MLS All-Stars and there it was. In FC 25, the team often remains "hidden" or locked behind a Live Form update. If your console isn't connected to the internet, or if you haven't downloaded the latest squad update, the team simply doesn't exist in the menus.
It’s basically a licensing handshake. Soccer Aid is a UNICEF fundraiser. EA Sports uses the team to boost awareness for the charity, but because it’s not a "real" professional club with a 38-game season, it doesn't get the same permanent real estate as, say, Real Madrid or Manchester City.
To find it, you have to go to Kick-Off, select your side, and then navigate to the Rest of World category. If it isn't there, you need to toggle "Live Form" on. This forces the game to ping the EA servers and pull the most recent promotional squads.
Who is actually in the Soccer Aid FC 25 lineup?
The roster is a mix of nostalgia and pure, unadulterated power. Unlike the real-life Soccer Aid match where you see YouTubers like Chunkz or sprinters like Usain Bolt struggling for air after thirty minutes, the FC 25 version is strictly the heavy hitters. You are getting the "Icon" versions of these players.
Basically, it's an Ultimate Team squad that you don't have to pay $500 for.
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You’ve got the Brazilian trio of Pelé, Ronaldo (R9), and Ronaldinho leading the line. In the midfield, it’s usually a rotation of Ruud Gullit, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham. The defense is equally terrifying, featuring Paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos. Honestly, playing with this team against a standard Premier League side is borderline unfair. The stats are skewed so heavily toward the Icons that you can score from thirty yards out with a casual flick of the circle button.
Why the Ratings Feel Different This Year
There is a lot of chatter in the forums about why some Icons feel "nerfed" in the Soccer Aid squad compared to their standalone Icon cards in Ultimate Team. There's a reason for that.
EA often uses specific "base" or "mid" versions of Icons for the Soccer Aid roster to keep the game from completely breaking. If they put the 97-rated "Team of the Year" versions of every player into one Kick-Off team, the physics engine starts to look a bit silly.
- The Goalkeeper Situation: Usually, you’re looking at Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar. They are impenetrable.
- The Bench: This is where it gets interesting. EA rotates the bench based on who actually participated in the most recent real-world charity match at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford.
- Skill Moves: Almost the entire attacking lineup has 5-star skill moves. If you know how to do the Elastico, you're going to ruin friendships.
The Problem With Career Mode and Soccer Aid
I get this question a lot: "Can I use the Soccer Aid FC 25 team in Career Mode?"
Technically, no. Not out of the box.
EA locks the Soccer Aid roster to Kick-Off mode only. They don't want you taking a 94-rated Ronaldo into a League Two save with Morecambe and winning the Champions League in three years. It ruins the "realism" they’re trying to sell. However, if you are on PC, the modding community usually finds a way to move these players into the free-agent pool within the first week of launch. For console players on PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’re stuck using them in local multiplayer or "House Rules" matches.
How to use these players in your own club
If you really want that Soccer Aid feel in a standard game mode, you have to use the Club Transfers tool in the main settings menu.
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- Go to Settings.
- Go to Edit Teams.
- Select Club Transfers.
- Search for the players by name (you'll find them in the "Free Agents" or "Icons" pool).
- Manually move them to a team like Manchester United or PSG.
It's tedious. It takes forever. But it’s the only way to get Ronaldinho into a domestic league structure without playing Ultimate Team.
Soccer Aid and the UNICEF Partnership
We shouldn't forget why this team exists in the first place. Soccer Aid for UNICEF is a massive deal. Since 2006, it has raised over £90 million. EA Sports joined the fray a few years ago as a way to bridge the gap between gaming and charity.
When you play with Soccer Aid FC 25, you'll see the UNICEF branding on the kits. It’s a clean, blue and white kit that actually looks better than half the licensed kits in the game. In some years, EA has even released these kits as objectives in Ultimate Team, where completing certain challenges earns you the kit, and in turn, EA makes a donation to the charity.
Common Glitches with the Soccer Aid Roster
Let’s be real: FC 25 has its fair share of bugs. One of the most common issues with the Soccer Aid squad is the "generic face" glitch. Sometimes, after a squad update, the game fails to load the high-fidelity face scans for players like Ribéry or Mia Hamm (who has been featured in recent crossover versions).
You’ll see a player with 90+ stats but they look like a default character from a 2005 RPG. If this happens, you need to go to Profile > Delete > Squad Update and then redownload it. It's a pain, but it usually fixes the visual assets.
Another thing? The commentary.
The commentators have specific lines for the Soccer Aid team. They’ll talk about the "legendary nature" of the squad and the charity work involved. It’s a nice touch that makes the matches feel a bit more like a televised event rather than a standard exhibition game.
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Comparing FC 24 vs FC 25 Soccer Aid
Has much changed? Honestly, not a ton.
The core of the team remains the "Class of EA." You’re always going to have Beckham. You’re always going to have Pelé. The main difference in FC 25 is the inclusion of the new "FC IQ" system. This changes how the Icons behave without the ball.
In previous years, the Soccer Aid team just relied on raw pace and shooting. Now, with the new tactical roles, someone like Andrea Pirlo actually plays like a "Deep Lying Playmaker." He’ll drop into pockets of space that didn't exist in the previous game engine. It makes the Icons feel more like their real-world counterparts rather than just high-stat avatars.
Why you should care about the "World XI"
In some versions of the game, the team is labeled as the "World XI" rather than "Soccer Aid." It depends on your region and the current status of the licensing agreement. If you can't find "Soccer Aid" under the S section of Rest of World, look for "World XI" under W. It’s the same group of legends, just wearing a slightly different badge.
Maximizing the Experience
If you're looking to get the most out of this squad, stop playing standard matches. Soccer Aid FC is built for Volta or Mystery Ball.
In Mystery Ball, where players get massive boosts to speed or shooting, the Soccer Aid Icons become literal superheroes. Imagine a 99-pace Ronaldo with a 2x goal boost. It’s chaos. It’s the most fun you can have in the game without grinding for 40 hours a week in Division Rivals.
Real-World Connection: The 2026 Match
As we look toward the next real-life Soccer Aid event, keep an eye on the FC 25 squad updates. EA usually refreshes the bench to include "Hero" cards of players who performed well in the actual charity match. If a legend like Joe Cole or Eden Hazard has a standout moment in the real-world game, they often get a temporary boost or a spot in the FC 25 roster.
Next Steps for Your Game:
- Check your connection: Ensure you are signed into your EA Account to see the "Rest of World" updates.
- Toggle Live Form: In the team selection screen, press the assigned button (usually Triangle on PS5 or Y on Xbox) to enable Live Form.
- Manual Transfer: If you want to use Pelé in Career Mode, go to the "Edit Teams" menu now and move him to your preferred club's roster before starting your save.
- Check the Kit Store: Look for the UNICEF kit in the Ultimate Team stadium customization tab if you want to support the cause while playing online.