When Will "FIFA 22" Be Released? Here's What We Know

Plus a few predictions of our own.

It may only be March, but that’s not gonna stop us from talking about FIFA 22 and the rumours surrounding EA’s latest instalment.

Sure, FIFA 21 has only been out for six months, but wouldn’t you rather be playing an even newer version? We thought so.

So, to get you pumped for the newest version, here’s everything we know (and our predictions) about FIFA 22 so far.

When will it be released?

EA haven’t confirmed the release date of FIFA 22 yet, but there are some safe assumptions that can be made about it.

Traditionally EA has released the latest instalment of FIFA each year towards to the end of September. That’s been the case for every FIFA game since 2010 with the exception of last year’s FIFA 21.

Citing the coronavirus as the reason for the delay, EA opted to postpone the game until October for PS4 and Xbox One, and December for next-gen consoles.

Assuming that 2020 was just an outlier for the series, it’s a safe bet to pencil in 24 September for the new game.

🚨LEAK🚨

Fifa 22 will be released this year ✅

— Waldy (@sub2waldy) March 23, 2021

Who will be on the cover?

Let’s talk which player will feature on the cover of FIFA 22.

Last year’s game saw PSG’s Kylian Mbappé take the coveted spot, with Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard featuring the year before.

Prior to them, Juventus world-beater Christiano Ronaldo had a two-year run on the front of the game but he can be safely ruled out given Konami and Pro Evolution Soccer have the exclusive rights to Juventus.

With question marks surrounding Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona, a fifth time on the cover for the Argentinian seems unlikely.

Our top pick would for the FIFA 22 cover remains with Mbappé as he continues to be elevated by pundits to Ronaldo and Messi’s level.

Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich would be a close second considering the striker’s goalscoring form over the last two seasons has been out of this world.

Finally, a dark horse for the cover—but a sure thing for future games to come—would be young Norwegian wonderkid Erling Haaland. The Dortmund front man is one of the hottest players in the world right now and an appearance on the cover would be well deserved.

Hazard is the cover star on FIFA 20: Injured
Mbappe is the cover star on FIFA 21: Injured

Next season's cover star rn: pic.twitter.com/l9zCIin8wg

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 25, 2020

Will EA include the FIFA World Cup?

The possibility of a 2022 FIFA World Cup mode would be high on EA’s list given they included it in FIFA 18. The only possible roadblock to this would be timing. Middle Eastern country Qatar is hosting the 2022 event in November that year, so EA could skip including the mode in FIFA 22 altogether in favour of FIFA 23.

All those logistics aside, we’re still predicting the World Cup will feature in FIFA 22. Plus, who doesn’t love taking a one-star rated team like India to World Cup glory?

Will The Journey make a comeback?

Beginning in FIFA 17 and concluding in FIFA 20, The Journey was a story mode where players assumed the role of Alex Hunter as he strives to be the best footballer in Europe.

The Journey was one of the more original modes that EA has done with the FIFA series in a long time and there’s huge potential here for FIFA to create a whole new story and characters, or even continue the storyline of Hunter.

We reckon that after a year-long hiatus, a return for The Journey is on the cards.

EA haven’t confirmed any FIFA 22 features so there won’t be anything concrete regarding this until EA’s Play event in June. We'll be sure to keep you posted.

Header Image: EA Sports FIFA