Can I Win the World Cup by Stealing Footballers? (EA Sports FC 25)
In the vast universe of EA Sports FC 25, we have embarked on perhaps the most audacious challenge yet: taking Saudi Arabia—widely regarded as one of the weakest national teams of the past two decades—to World Cup glory. This article chronicles our journey through this seemingly impossible task, with a fascinating twist that transforms this challenge into something truly unique.
The Challenge: Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Dream
Saudi Arabia enters this World Cup as underdogs by every metric. With limited star power, minimal international pedigree, and a history of early tournament exits, the odds are stacked heavily against us. However, this article isn’t about accepting limitations—it’s about transcending them through creativity and strategic opportunism.
The Twist: Football’s Greatest Heist
What makes our challenge particularly intriguing is the special rule we’ve implemented: after each match, we earn the right to “steal” players from our opponents. This unprecedented mechanic works through a “wheel of fortune” system—score goals in specific ways as dictated by the wheel, and we can claim our opponents’ stars as our own.
This transforms each match into a dual-objective mission: not only must we compete to win, but we must also strategically score goals in particular fashions to maximize our recruitment potential. It’s football management meets strategic heist planning.
Group Stage Nightmares
The draw has not been kind to our Saudi Arabian side. We’ve been placed in what can only be described as a group of death, featuring some of the world’s most formidable football nations. Our opening fixture presents an immediate baptism of fire against one of the tournament’s heaviest favorites—a team stacked with world-class talent across every position.
This daunting opener will test not just our tactical acumen but our ability to execute the specific goal-scoring methods required by our player-stealing wheel. Do we focus on survival, or do we gamble on securing that first superstar addition to bolster our squad for the matches ahead?
The Strategy Ahead
Our approach must be calculated. Each opponent offers different talents worth acquiring, and we must prioritize positions that need strengthening most urgently. Do we target a world-class striker first? Or is solidifying our defensive line the priority? These decisions will shape our evolving squad as we progress through the tournament.
The beauty of this challenge lies in its escalating potential. Each successful player acquisition makes the next match more winnable, potentially creating a snowball effect that could transform Saudi Arabia from minnows to genuine contenders as the tournament progresses.
In the chapters that follow, we will detail our specific recruitment targets from Spain and the Netherlands, chronicle our pivotal group stage showdown with Portugal, navigate the knockout stages against football giants Brazil and France, and ultimately reveal whether our assembled team of “stolen” stars could overcome Argentina and Spain to claim the ultimate prize in international football.
Building the Team: Stealing Players from Spain and Netherlands
After establishing our ambitious challenge of taking Saudi Arabia to World Cup glory through our unique player-stealing mechanic, we faced our first major tests against two European powerhouses: Spain and the Netherlands. These matches would prove crucial not just for tournament progression, but for acquiring the talent necessary to transform our squad.
The Spanish Challenge: Low-Driven Shot Mission
Our opening fixture against Spain presented an immediate tactical dilemma. According to our wheel of fortune, we needed to score using low-driven shots to earn the right to steal Spanish players. This specialized finishing technique, recently enhanced in EA Sports FC 25 with the low-driven shot playstyle, would require precision and careful build-up play.
Spain’s technical superiority was evident from the outset, with their midfield maestros controlling possession and creating dangerous opportunities. Our goalkeeper struggled against their long-range efforts, and we conceded a well-worked equalizer just before halftime when Pedri found space to set up a clinical finish.
Despite the quality gap, our counter-attacking strategy began to bear fruit. Al-Dosari showcased remarkable skill, breaking through the Spanish defense and finishing with a perfect low-driven shot into the near corner. This execution was precisely what our challenge demanded—the low trajectory making it difficult for Unai Simón to react in time.
The Spanish response was immediate and forceful. Pedri orchestrated another attack, finding Morata who restored Spain’s lead. However, our determination paid dividends when we executed a brilliant solo run through the heart of the Spanish defense, culminating in another low-driven finish to level the score at 2-2.
Our momentum continued to build as we scored a third goal, again utilizing the low-driven technique to perfection. However, upon video review, we determined that one of our goals actually featured a chip over the goalkeeper rather than the required low-driven shot, meaning we could only claim two Spanish players.
Spain’s quality eventually told in the latter stages, with Rodri and Yamal combining to secure a 4-3 victory for the European side. Despite the defeat, we had successfully earned the right to recruit two world-class talents: Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and the phenomenal young winger Lamine Yamal.
Dutch Encounter: Triple Volley Challenge
Our second group match against the Netherlands came with a different challenge—we needed to score three volleys from outside the penalty area to maximize our player acquisition. This technically demanding task would require exceptional timing and precision.
The Dutch immediately demonstrated their attacking prowess, with Memphis Depay and Donyell Malen creating several dangerous opportunities in the opening minutes. However, our improved squad, now featuring Rodri and Yamal, showed greater resilience and counter-attacking threat.
Our first significant opportunity came from a swift transition, with Yamal’s technical ability allowing us to execute a perfect volley finish. Though the goal counted on the scoreboard, it occurred inside the penalty area rather than from distance as required by our challenge, meaning it wouldn’t count toward our player-stealing objective.
The match continued to ebb and flow, with the Netherlands equalizing through Malen, who exploited a momentary lapse in our defensive positioning. Our goalkeeper, still a weak link in the team, allowed the shot to pass between his legs despite being well-positioned.
Rodri quickly proved his worth to our evolving squad, scoring a crucial equalizer to make it 2-2. His composure and finishing ability demonstrated exactly why we had prioritized his acquisition from Spain. This result meant we could claim two Dutch players, and we strategically selected defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk and midfield controller Frenkie de Jong.
Squad Transformation Analysis
After just two matches, our Saudi Arabian side had undergone a remarkable transformation. The additions of Rodri, Yamal, Van Dijk, and De Jong provided world-class quality across multiple positions:
- Rodri offered elite defensive midfield presence, ball retention, and surprising goal threat
- Yamal brought explosive pace, creativity, and technical brilliance on the wing
- Van Dijk instantly solidified our previously vulnerable defense with his leadership and physical dominance
- De Jong added technical security and progressive passing from deep midfield positions
Despite these significant improvements, our tournament situation remained precarious. With two defeats from two matches, we found ourselves bottom of the group heading into a decisive final fixture against Portugal. Only a victory would give us any chance of advancing to the knockout stages.
The challenge ahead was daunting, but our squad now possessed genuine star quality capable of competing with the world’s best. Our next objective would be to overcome Portugal while executing whatever specific goal-scoring method our wheel of fortune would demand, potentially adding Cristiano Ronaldo or Bruno Fernandes to our increasingly formidable squad.
The Decisive Group Stage Match: Portugal Showdown
After our challenging encounters with Spain and the Netherlands, our Saudi Arabian squad—now bolstered by world-class talents—faced a do-or-die situation against Portugal in the final group stage match. With zero points from our first two games, only a victory would give us any chance of progressing to the knockout stages. This match would not only determine our tournament fate but also present an opportunity to acquire Portuguese stars through our unique player-stealing mechanic.
The Fortune Wheel Challenge: Long Shot Mission
As we prepared for this crucial encounter, our wheel of fortune presented us with perhaps the most technically demanding challenge yet: scoring via a long shot. This requirement would test our shooting precision and power from distance, adding another layer of complexity to an already high-pressure situation.
The match began with Portugal asserting their quality, controlling possession and creating several half-chances. Our improved defensive structure, anchored by Van Dijk, proved more resilient than in previous matches. Rodri’s presence in midfield provided crucial stability, allowing us to weather the early Portuguese pressure without conceding.
Tactical Adjustments and Breakthrough
Our initial attempts at fulfilling the long shot requirement proved frustrating. We positioned Yamal for several distance efforts, but his shooting from range lacked the necessary power and accuracy. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, we shifted our approach, looking to utilize Rodri’s superior shooting ability from distance.
This tactical adjustment paid dividends midway through the first half. Following a well-worked move, Rodri found space 25 yards from goal and unleashed a powerful strike that flew past the Portuguese goalkeeper. The goal not only gave us a crucial lead but also satisfied our long shot requirement, opening the possibility of claiming a Portuguese player.
Portugal responded with increased urgency, creating their first clear opportunity of the match. Our goalkeeper, still the weak link in our evolving squad, made a crucial save that preserved our advantage. This defensive resilience proved vital as we sought to build on our lead.
Securing the Victory
The second half saw Portugal push forward in search of an equalizer, leaving spaces for us to exploit on the counter-attack. Our improved technical quality allowed us to maintain possession more effectively than in previous matches, frustrating the Portuguese players and fans alike.
A decisive moment came when Salem Al-Dawsari, one of our original Saudi players, finished a clinical counter-attack with a precise finish into the near corner. This second goal gave us breathing space and put Portugal in a precarious position regarding their own qualification hopes.
With an 8-minute window remaining and a comfortable 2-0 lead, we focused on securing a third goal to maximize our player acquisition potential. Yamal, who had been threatening throughout with his pace and skill, finally delivered the knockout blow. Breaking free on a counter-attack, he executed a perfect finesse shot that curled beautifully into the top corner, capping a remarkable 3-0 victory.
Tournament Implications and Player Acquisitions
This stunning result completely transformed our group standing. From being bottom with zero points, we climbed to second place, dramatically qualifying for the knockout stages while eliminating Portugal in the process. The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated—a Saudi Arabian team, albeit one now featuring several world-class “stolen” players, had advanced from the tournament’s most challenging group.
Following our victory, we strategically selected two Portuguese stars to join our squad:
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Despite his advancing years, the legendary forward’s finishing ability, aerial prowess, and big-game experience made him an irresistible addition
- Rúben Dias – The commanding center-back would form a formidable partnership with Van Dijk, potentially creating one of the tournament’s most impenetrable defensive duos
Looking Ahead to Brazil
With our group stage heroics complete, our attention turned to the knockout rounds and an intimidating quarter-final matchup against Brazil. Our squad had undergone a remarkable transformation, now featuring six world-class players acquired from our defeated opponents:
- Rodri and Yamal from Spain
- Van Dijk and De Jong from the Netherlands
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Rúben Dias from Portugal
This collection of talent had elevated our Saudi Arabian side from tournament minnows to genuine contenders. The question remained whether this hastily assembled group of stars could gel quickly enough to overcome the individual brilliance and collective harmony of the Brazilian squad in the upcoming knockout clash.
The journey from underdogs to contenders had been extraordinary, but the most significant challenges still lay ahead as we prepared to face the five-time world champions with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
Knockout Stages: Facing Brazil and France
After our remarkable group stage turnaround, our transformed Saudi Arabian squad faced the ultimate test in the knockout rounds. With six world-class players now in our ranks, we prepared to face two footballing superpowers in succession: Brazil in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals. These matches would not only determine our World Cup fate but also present opportunities to further strengthen our squad through our unique player-stealing mechanic.
The Brazilian Challenge: Bicycle Kick Mission
Our quarter-final against Brazil presented perhaps our most technically demanding challenge yet: scoring via a bicycle kick. This acrobatic finishing move requires perfect timing, positioning, and execution—a tall order against Brazil’s organized defense.
The match began ominously as Brazil’s attacking talent immediately put us under pressure. Despite our improved defensive unit featuring Van Dijk and Dias, Brazil’s fluid movement created openings, and they capitalized early. A well-worked move culminated in a clinical finish, giving the five-time world champions a 1-0 lead.
Rather than retreating into a defensive shell, Brazil continued to press forward, doubling their advantage before halftime with another impressive team goal. At 2-0 down, our World Cup dream appeared to be fading rapidly, and our bicycle kick mission seemed increasingly improbable.
However, our squad’s quality began to show as we fought back into the contest. Cristiano Ronaldo, demonstrating why we had prioritized his acquisition, pulled a goal back with a trademark finish. This breakthrough energized our team, and Salem Al-Dawsari—one of our original Saudi players—equalized with a precise shot into the bottom corner, bringing the score to 2-2.
Throughout the second half, we made multiple attempts to execute the bicycle kick required by our challenge. Yamal created several promising situations, but Alisson’s exceptional goalkeeping repeatedly denied us. Despite numerous creative approaches to set up the acrobatic finish, the Brazilian defense remained vigilant, preventing us from fulfilling our player-stealing objective.
With the scores level after 90 minutes, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Despite concerns about our goalkeeper—still a relative weakness in our squad—he produced two crucial saves. After Cristiano Ronaldo surprisingly missed his penalty, Rodri stepped up to convert the decisive spot-kick, sending us through to the semi-finals with a dramatic victory.
While the win represented a historic achievement for our Saudi Arabian side, we were unable to complete the bicycle kick challenge, meaning we would face France without any new additions to our squad.
The French Examination: Rainbow Flick and Long Shot
Our semi-final against France presented another specialized challenge: score with a long shot following a rainbow flick skill move. This combination of technical skill and finishing precision would test our players’ abilities to the limit against one of the tournament’s strongest teams.
France’s attacking threat was immediately apparent, with Mbappé’s pace causing problems for our defense. Only Van Dijk’s exceptional positioning and recovery speed prevented the French superstar from breaking through in the opening minutes. Our goalkeeper, who had performed heroically in the penalty shootout against Brazil, continued his improved form with a spectacular save from Rabiot’s powerful strike.
The tactical battle intensified as both teams sought to control the midfield. Rodri and De Jong formed an effective partnership, helping us maintain possession for extended periods and frustrating the French attackers. Yamal’s technical ability created several promising situations, but we struggled to create the space needed to execute the rainbow flick skill move effectively.
As the match progressed, the tension mounted with both teams creating half-chances without breaking the deadlock. Cristiano Ronaldo came closest to fulfilling our challenge, successfully performing a rainbow flick only for his subsequent long-range effort to be brilliantly saved by Maignan in the French goal.
With the scores level at 0-0 after 90 minutes, the match entered extra time. Despite fatigue setting in, both teams continued to probe for openings. Our defensive solidity remained impressive, with the partnership of Van Dijk and Dias nullifying France’s attacking threats.
Unable to separate the teams after 120 minutes, another penalty shootout would decide our fate. The pressure was immense, but our players showed remarkable composure. After exchanging successful penalties, our goalkeeper produced two crucial saves, giving Rodri the opportunity to once again score the decisive penalty. His unerring finish secured our place in the World Cup final—an achievement that would have seemed impossible when we began this journey with Saudi Arabia.
Tactical Evolution and Squad Assessment
Our progression to the final represented a triumph of tactical adaptation and the successful integration of our “stolen” stars. Despite failing to complete our player-stealing challenges against both Brazil and France, our existing squad had proven sufficient to overcome two of world football’s greatest powers.
Several key factors contributed to our success in these knockout matches:
- Defensive solidity: The partnership of Van Dijk and Dias provided world-class protection, limiting the effectiveness of elite attackers like Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé.
- Midfield control: Rodri and De Jong established dominance in central areas, allowing us to dictate tempo and maintain possession against technically gifted opponents.
- Moments of individual brilliance: Cristiano Ronaldo and Yamal provided the creative spark needed to unlock organized defenses in crucial moments.
- Improved goalkeeping: Despite being identified as a weakness earlier in the tournament, our goalkeeper produced critical saves in both penalty shootouts.
As we prepared for the final against Argentina, we faced a significant challenge. Without having successfully completed our player-stealing objectives against Brazil and France, we would enter the championship match with the same squad that had secured our semi-final victory. This meant we would need to rely on tactical discipline and the quality of our existing players rather than introducing new stars to counter the threat posed by Messi and his teammates.
The journey from Saudi Arabian underdogs to World Cup finalists had been extraordinary, but the ultimate test still awaited. Could our collection of “stolen” stars from Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal overcome Argentina to complete one of the most remarkable stories in football history? The final chapter of our adventure would provide the answer.
The Road to Glory: Conquering Argentina and Spain in the Final
After our dramatic penalty shootout victory against France in the semi-finals, our transformed Saudi Arabian squad stood on the precipice of footballing immortality. The final hurdle in our extraordinary journey would be a two-legged final against Argentina—the reigning world champions led by Lionel Messi—followed by a rematch against Spain, the team that had defeated us in our opening match.
The Argentina Challenge: Headers Required
Our wheel of fortune presented us with a clear objective for the first leg against Argentina: score with headers. This challenge played to the strengths of our squad, particularly with aerial specialists like Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk at our disposal.
The match began with Argentina demonstrating the quality that had made them world champions. Their technical proficiency and fluid movement created several early opportunities, but our defensive unit, now operating with remarkable cohesion, withstood the initial pressure. Rúben Dias and Van Dijk formed an impenetrable barrier, neutralizing Argentina’s attacking threats with composed interventions.
Our first significant opportunity to fulfill our header challenge came from a corner kick. Yamal’s delivery found Van Dijk rising above the Argentine defense, but his powerful header was brilliantly saved by Emiliano Martínez. This sequence established a pattern that would continue throughout the match—Yamal’s precise crossing creating aerial opportunities for our forwards and defenders.
The breakthrough finally came midway through the first half. After a period of sustained pressure, we executed a brilliant combination play down the right flank. Yamal delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post where Cristiano Ronaldo, timing his leap to perfection, powered a header beyond Martínez’s reach. This goal not only gave us a crucial lead but also satisfied our header challenge, opening the possibility of claiming Argentine players.
Our tactical approach evolved as the match progressed. Rather than retreating to protect our advantage, we continued to seek aerial opportunities. A particularly memorable moment came from a throw-in situation—an unconventional source for a headed goal. The ball was launched into the penalty area, where Ronaldo outjumped his marker and directed a looping header over Martínez. The execution was flawless, with Ronaldo’s exceptional aerial ability on full display as he generated remarkable power despite the difficult angle.
Argentina responded with increased urgency, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Our goalkeeper, who had improved significantly throughout the tournament, produced several crucial saves to preserve our lead. One particularly impressive stop came when he denied a close-range effort from Julián Álvarez, diving full-length to tip the ball around the post.
In the closing stages, we created several additional opportunities to extend our lead. Yamal continued to torment the Argentine defense with his pace and skill, while Rodri and De Jong maintained control in midfield. A final chance fell to Salem Al-Dawsari, one of our original Saudi players, but his header was well saved by Martínez.
The final whistle confirmed our victory, and with it, the opportunity to claim two Argentine stars for our squad. Our strategic selections were obvious: Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time, and Emiliano Martínez, the world-class goalkeeper who would address the final weakness in our team.
The Ultimate Test: Spain Rematch with Specialized Finishing
With our squad now featuring an unprecedented collection of world-class talent, we prepared for the second leg of the final against Spain—the team that had comprehensively defeated us in our tournament opener. This rematch offered a perfect narrative arc to our journey, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate how far we had progressed.
The wheel of fortune added another layer of complexity to this decisive match: we could only score through one-touch finishes, with any goals scored by other means being awarded to our opponents. This specialized requirement would test our technical precision and attacking coordination.
Spain entered the match with confidence, having reached the final despite losing Rodri and Yamal to our player-stealing mechanic. Their technical quality remained evident from the outset, with their midfield controlling possession and creating several dangerous opportunities.
Our first attempt at a one-touch finish nearly ended in disaster. A promising attack broke down when our player took multiple touches before scoring, resulting in an offside call that spared us from conceding an own goal under our special rules. This early warning emphasized the need for disciplined execution of our finishing requirement.
The Spanish threat materialized when Nico Williams broke through our defense and finished clinically to give Spain a 1-0 lead. Despite our significantly strengthened squad, we found ourselves trailing and under pressure to respond while adhering to our one-touch finishing constraint.
Our equalizer came through perfect execution of our challenge. A flowing move involving Messi and Yamal created space on the right wing, with the final cross finding Cristiano Ronaldo, who redirected the ball into the net with a single, precise touch. This goal not only leveled the score but demonstrated the extraordinary quality now at our disposal—two of football’s greatest-ever players combining effectively despite having never played together before this unusual experiment.
With the scores level, the wheel of fortune presented us with a new challenge: score with a finesse shot from outside the penalty area. This technique, involving curl and precision rather than power, suited Messi’s skillset perfectly.
Spain continued to pose a threat, with Williams again proving dangerous as he scored to make it 1-1 on the night. However, our response was swift and decisive. Messi, showcasing the technique that has defined his career, received the ball on the edge of the penalty area before curling a sublime finesse shot into the top corner. The execution was flawless—the ball arcing away from the goalkeeper’s reach before nestling in the net.
Our final challenge required us to chip the goalkeeper—a delicate technique requiring perfect weight and timing. With less than ten minutes remaining and the aggregate score in our favor, we launched one final attack. Salem Al-Dawsari carried the ball forward before finding Cristiano Ronaldo in space. The Portuguese forward, demonstrating his complete attacking repertoire, delicately lifted the ball over the advancing Spanish goalkeeper, securing our victory with a goal of exquisite technique.
The Culmination: Saudi Arabia’s Impossible Achievement
The final whistle confirmed what had seemed impossible when we began this journey—Saudi Arabia, through our unique player-stealing mechanic, had become world champions. Our squad, transformed from tournament minnows to a collection of the game’s greatest talents, had overcome the initial humiliation against Spain to defeat them when it mattered most.
The final squad that secured this historic achievement featured an extraordinary collection of talent:
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Rúben Dias from Portugal
- Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong from the Netherlands
- Rodri and Lamine Yamal from Spain
- Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martínez from Argentina
This experiment demonstrated the fascinating potential of EA Sports FC 25’s gameplay mechanics when combined with creative challenge rules. By implementing our player-stealing system, we transformed a seemingly impossible challenge into a compelling narrative of progression and tactical evolution.
Reflections on Our Journey
This unique World Cup journey with Saudi Arabia revealed several insights about team building and tactical adaptation in EA Sports FC 25:
- The importance of addressing key weaknesses: Our initial focus on strengthening central defense (Van Dijk, Dias) and midfield (Rodri, De Jong) provided the foundation for our success.
- The value of specialized skills: Each player-stealing challenge forced us to master specific techniques, from low-driven shots to headers, developing a comprehensive understanding of the game’s finishing mechanics.
- The power of complementary talents: Our final squad featured players whose abilities enhanced one another—Yamal’s crossing complementing Ronaldo’s aerial prowess, Messi’s creativity supported by Rodri and De Jong’s midfield control.
- The balance between individual brilliance and team structure: While our success ultimately relied on world-class individuals, the tactical framework and defensive organization remained crucial throughout.
What began as an audacious challenge—taking Saudi Arabia to World Cup glory—concluded as a testament to creative problem-solving and strategic player acquisition. Through our unique player-stealing mechanic, we transformed one of international football’s weakest teams into world champions, creating a memorable narrative that showcased both the flexibility of EA Sports FC 25’s gameplay systems and the potential for innovative challenge formats to enhance the gaming experience.
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