Champions League, Europa League and Conference League work differently this year – UEFA has reformed. This also rubs off on the first dynamic FUT promo of FC 25: Road to the Knockouts.
One matchday has already been played in the Champions and Europa League in 2024/25, with the Conference League following suit next week. The focus in the European opening matches was on the new format: instead of being played in groups, the Champions League and the others are played in a league system before the knockout phase from this season onwards. However, not every team plays against each other team, but each team plays against eight or six other teams. Drawing lots for this is so complex that the computer had to do it.
Traditionally, EA SPORTS uses the European competition as an opportunity to add some dynamic cards to Ultimate Team. In FIFA 25, this is no different. The special items can be improved depending on the real performance of the players. Since the groups in international club football are history, the developer had to adapt in the new game. The milestones for upgrades on the Road to the Knockouts (RTTK) have been changed.
Last upgrade for top duo of the league phase
The first upgrade – one point towards the overall rating – is awarded to the properties if they win three league matches. At least for the Champions League and the Europa League. In the Conference League, which only has six matchdays instead of eight, two wins are required. At least one team goal in four different matches adds another point to the rating and an additional player role++. The same requirement applies in the Conference League here.
Only a select few RTTK cards will receive the final upgrade: If the respective club finishes the league phase in one of the top two places in the table, there is another player role++ and a PlayStyle on top. Given the large number of participating clubs, this is a difficult task. After all, 36 teams compete in all three competitions.
The Women’s Champions League is unchanged from the men’s. The same conditions and improvements apply to the women’s items in RTTK as to the Conference League. Exception: the last upgrade. This is awarded when a club wins its group.
A Bundesliga trio and Bellingham
The first RTTK team for the FUT packs consists of 19 items, three of which are from the Bundesliga: Jeremie Frimpong (88 as overall rating) from Bayer Leverkusen, Benjamin Sesko (86) from RB Leipzig and Robin Koch (86) from Eintracht Frankfurt. Three more former Bundesliga players are represented: former Dortmund player Jude Bellingham (91), former Hoffenheim player Stefan Posch (84) and former Frankfurt player Donny van de Beek (85).
