FIFA 18: Best (and worst) Teams to Play With

Despite what you may think, every FIFA game is different. Have an experiment with a load of different teams so see what suits your style. Like to counter attack? Then pick a side with pace out wide but a tough defence. If you prefer a more controlled build-up then you will want delicate midfielders with more balance up front. 

READ: FIFA 19: Best (and worst) Teams to Play With

We’ve reviewed all the best sides on FIFA 18 and come up with a series of clubs that are the most dangerous on the game for different reasons. Don’t agree with us? Then let us know your favourite team in the comments section below. 

Best overall team: Bayern Munich

5 star, 86 overall, 88 attack, 86 midfield, 85 defence

Best players: Manuel Neuer (OVR 92), Robert Lewandowski (OVR 91), Thiago (OVR 88)

Ones to watch: Niklas Sule (OVR 83), Joshua Kimmich (OVR 82), Corentin Tolisso (OVR 82)

Transfer budget: £79.2 million

Wage budget: £375,000 a week

If you are looking for complete balance in your side, go for Bayern Munich. The five-time defending champions are strong in all areas of the pitch and have many ways of playing.

With Manuel Neuer (OVR 92) in goal, you already have a platform, especially with centre backs Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels (both OVR 88) in front of him. Arjen Robben (OVR 88) helps supply the width on the right, and there are various midfield combinations you can use, but make sure James Rodriguez (OVR 86) is in the number 10 role. With Robert Lewandowski (OVR 91) up front, goals are guaranteed.

With great squad depth, and a blend of youth and experience, Bayern have perhaps the most well-rounded side on FIFA 18. Look to get the ball wide or find Rodriguez in space, and those front four players can tear defences apart.

Check out our Bayern Munich Career Mode guide

Best attacking team: Real Madrid

5 star, 86 overall, 87 attack, 86 midfield, 86 defence

Best players: Cristiano Ronaldo (OVR 94), Toni Kroos (OVR 90), Sergio Ramos (OVR 90)

Ones to watch: Marco Asensio (OVR 84), Mateo Kovacic (OVR 82), Dani Ceballos (OVR 78)

Transfer budget: £87.8 million

Wage budget: £415,000 a week

Matching Bayern with an 86 overall rating is Real Madrid. They too have no weaknesses, but with Cristiano Ronaldo (OVR 94) and Gareth Bale (OVR 89) in their side, they have the most dangerous attack in the game. 

With those pacemen out wide and Karim Benzema (OVR 86) an old-fashioned number nine up front, Los Blancos are well-equipped to counter-attack. Toni Kroos (OVR 90) and Luka Modric (OVR 89) in midfield means they can play with the ball when needed, and let fly from range. With a solid back four and the likes of Isco and Marco Asensio on the bench, Real are a tough team to handle.

Honourable mention: Inter Milan

Check out our Real Madrid Career Mode guide

Best defensive team: Chelsea

5 star, 84 overall, 85 attack, 84 midfield, 83 defence

Best players: Eden Hazard (OVR 90), Thibaut Courtois (OVR 89), N’Golo Kante (OVR 87)

Ones to watch: Tiemoue Bakayoko (OVR 82), Andreas Christensen (OVR 81) Michy Batshuayi (OVR 80)

Transfer budget: £82.2 million 

Wage budget: £360,000 a week

Yes, Chelsea only have an 82-defence rating, but their five at the back system is near impossible to break down on FIFA 18. With Cesar Azpilicueta (OVR 85), David Luiz (OVR 86), Gary Cahill (OVR 84), Antonio Rudiger (OVR 82) and Andreas Christensen (OVR 81), they have five top class centre backs, and whichever combination you use, few opposing attackers will be able to find space in the Chelsea back-line. 

With N’Golo Kante (OVR 87) as the midfield general, and the small matter of Eden Hazard (OVR 90) and Alvaro Morata (OVR 85) in attack, Chelsea are one of the most solid teams on the game. 

Honourable mention: Juventus

Check out our Chelsea Career Mode guide

Check out our Juventus Career Mode guide

Most creative team: Manchester City

5 star, 83 overall, 84 attack, 84 midfield, 82 defence

Best players: Kevin De Bruyne (OVR 89), Sergio Aguero (OVR 89), David Silva (OVR 87)

Ones to watch: Bernardo Silva (OVR 84), Ederson (OVR 83), Leroy Sane (OVR 82),

Transfer budget: £132 million

Wage budget: £275,000 a week

No surprises here, Kevin De Bruyne (OVR 89), David Silva (OVR 87) and Bernardo Silva (OVR 84) are all deadly options in the Manchester City midfield. With the pace of Leroy Sane (94 sprint speed) and Raheem Sterling (92 sprint speed) out wide and Sergio Aguero (OVR 89), City can rip sides apart in the final third. 

Defensive protection is your only worry, so you must decide whether to go all out on your team selection, or opt for the more defensive Fernandinho (OVR 82) in midfield. 

A healthy transfer budget makes City the choice for Career Mode, and with or without new signings you should be lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season. 

Honourable mention: Barcelona

Check out our Manchester City Career Mode guide

Check out our Barcelona Career Mode guide

Most exciting team: Paris Saint-Germain

5 star, 83 overall, 85 attack, 83 midfield, 83 defence

Best players: Neymar (OVR 92), Thiago Silva (OVR 88), Marco Verratti (OVR 87)

Ones to watch: Kylian Mbappe (OVR 83), Marquinhos (OVR 83), Presnel Kimpembe

Transfer budget: £114.4 million

Wage budget: £195,000 a week

If you want that all out attacking blitz, PSG is the side to go for. Your task is to try and fit Neymar (OVR 92), Edinson Cavani (OVR 87), Angel di Maria (OVR 85), Julian Draxler (OVR 84), and Kylian Mbappe (OVR 83) on the pitch at the same time. If you go for a 4-3-3 attack, you will still have one of them to provide the difference off the bench. 

With a core of Thiago Silva (OVR 88) in defence and Marco Verratti (OVR 87) in midfield, there is enough there to thwart the inevitable counter-attack when it comes. To nullify this, make sure you are the team countering, so play more quick direct football, and be patient in defence. 

Honourable mention: Liverpool

Check out our Paris Saint-Germain Career Mode guide

Check out our Liverpool Career Mode guide

Most disciplined team: Atletico Madrid

5 star, 83 overall, 83 attack, 82 midfield, 84 defence

Best players: Jan Oblak (OVR 88), Antoine Griezmann (OVR 88), Diego Godin (OVR 88)

Ones to watch: Saul Niguez (OVR 82), Jose Maria Gimenez (OVR 83), Angel Correa (OVR 80)

Transfer budget: £52.8 million

Wage budget: £120,000 a week

With the word ‘discipline’, Atletico Madrid comes immediately to mind. Nowadays you’ve got to be incredibly disciplined and work hard if you are to use a 4-4-2 formation successfully, and Diego Simeone’s Atletico do just that. 

With Jan Oblak (OVR 88) in between the sticks and Diego Godin (OVR 88) marshalling the defence, the defensive security is there, but in the midfield is where the work has to be done. Central midfielders Saul Niguez (OVR 82) and Koke (OVR 85) have high defensive work rates, allowing the talents of Yannick Carrasco (OVR 85) and star man Antoine Griezmann (OVR 88) to cause havoc on the counter-attack. 

Honourable mention: Tottenham Hotspur

Check out our Atletico Madrid Career Mode guide

Check out our Tottenham Hotspur Career Mode guide

Most overrated team: Arsenal

5 star, 82 overall, 85 attack, 81 midfield, 82 defence

Best players: Alexis Sanchez (OVR 89), Mesut Ozil (OVR 87), Petr Cech (OVR 86)

Ones to watch: Hector Bellerin (OVR 81), Alex Iwobi (OVR 76), Rob Holding (OVR 72)

Transfer budget: £79.8 million

Wage budget: £317,000 a week

Alexis Sanchez aside, much of the Arsenal squad have been flattered on FIFA 18. Defensive pair Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi (both OVR 84) are inconsistent performers, and Santi Cazorla (OVR 83) hasn’t been seen in an Arsenal shirt since October 2016. As for Mesut Ozil, his 87 overall rating makes him the fourth best attacking midfielder on the game. That sees him above James Rodriguez and Dele Alli, both who are regarded among the best in the world in their position.

To get the most out of this Arsenal side, ditch their 5-2-3 formation, and move to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system. With Sanchez on the left and Alexandre Lacazette (OVR 85) up front, there is so much quality in attack, and you can throw on Olivier Giroud (90 heading accuracy) for an aerial threat.

Honourable mention: Manchester United

Check out our Arsenal Career Mode guide

Check out our Manchester United Mode guide

Most underrated team: AS Monaco

4.5 star, 80 overall, 80 attack, 81 midfield, 79 defence

Best players: Kamil Glik (OVR 85), Danijel Subasic (OVR 85), Radamel Falcao (OVR 84)

Ones to watch: Thomas Lemar (OVR 83), Keita Balde Diao (OVR 82), Youri Tielemans (OVR 80)

Transfer budget: £30.8 million

Wage budget: £90,000 a week

After winning the French league last season, how are Monaco rewarded? They are the 18th best team on FIFA 18. Yes, they lost top talent over the summer in Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Benjamin Mendy, but they were replaced with some quality players. Youri Tielemans (OVR 80), Terence Kongolo (OVR 77), Rachid Ghezzal (OVR 76) and Stevan Jovetic (OVR 81) have all been harshly rated, and if they all went up a few points, Monaco would be a five-star team. 

Yes, the French champions have a tough task in going up against the heavy spenders of PSG, but they are still amongst the best teams in Europe and far from one-season wonders. 

Honourable mention: Napoli

Check out our AS Monaco Career Mode guide

Check out our Napoli Career Mode guide

Surprise package: West Ham United

4 star, 78 overall, 80 attack, 78 midfield, 78 defence

Best players: Marko Arnautovic (OVR 82), Javier Hernandez (OVR 82), Manuel Lanzini (OVR 81)

Ones to watch: Arthur Masuaku (OVR 75), Edimilson Fernandes (OVR 69), Domingos Quina (OVR 62)

Transfer budget: £55.6 million

Wage budget: £205,000 a week

With West Ham struggling in the Premier League this season, their quality on FIFA 18 gets all the more surprising. With the attacking talents of Marko Arnautovic (OVR 82), Manuel Lanzini (OVR 81) and star man Javier Hernandez (OVR 82), as well as the aerially dominant Andy Carroll (91 heading accuracy).

Joe Hart (OVR 81), Pablo Zabaleta (OVT 79), Jose Fonte (OVR 79), and Winston Reid (OVR 79) offer a reliable defensive wall, perhaps highlighting that the Hammers should be nowhere near the drop zone in the PL. Look to counter-attack and get the ball wide to their exciting wingers, and look for movement from Hernandez.

Honourable mention: Lazio

Check out our West Ham Career Mode guide

Check out our Lazio Career Mode guide

Best international team: Spain

5 star, 86 overall, 84 attack, 86 midfield, 86 defence

Best players: David de Gea (OVR 90), Sergio Ramos (OVR 90), Thiago (OVR 88)

Ones to watch: Alvaro Morata (OVR 85), Marco Asensio (OVR 84), Saul Niguez (OVR 82)

14 games unbeaten and it’s no surprise that Spain are the best international side on FIFA 18. No player in their starting line-up is rated below 85, and there are plenty of options in every position. Goalkeeper David de Gea and Sergio Ramos (both OVR 90) are the stars, with the only thing they are lacking is a bit of pace out wide. To rectify this throw on Jose Callejon (90 sprint speed) and bring Inaki Williams (94 sprint speed) into the squad.

To highlight Spain’s depth, none of Diego Costa (OVR 86), Javi Martinez (OVR 86), Cesc Fabregas (OVR 85) or Juan Mata (OVR 84) are currently in the squad. You should be patient in your build-up and look for midfield runners if you are to unlock defences with La Roja. 

Honourable mention: Belgium

Worst international team: India

1 star, 60 overall, 61 attack, 60 midfield, 59 defence

Best players: Sunil Chhetri (OVR 67), Lalrindika Ralte (OVR 64), Subrata Paul (OVR 64)

Ones to watch: Udanta Singh (OVR 61), Sandesh Jhingan (OVR 61), Daniel Lalhlimpuia (OVR 54)

Ranked 105th in the FIFA world rankings, India are yet to qualify for a World Cup. There is a sense that the perception is changing in India, with the national team qualifying for the Asia Cup for just the fourth time, and the U17 World Cup currently taking place in the country. With some talented players, you could catch your opponent cold with the Indian national team on FIFA 18.

Sunil Chettri (OVR 67) can put the goals away and Lalrindika Ralte (OVR 64) is a threat going down the left-hand side. You will have to be patient with such a poor side, but there will be that chance to put teams away with the Indians. Can you achieve the unthinkable and claim an international win with India on FIFA 18?

Honourable mention: Bolivia

Worst overall team: Drogheda United

0.5 star, 55 overall, 57 attack, 55 midfield, 55 defence

Best players: Stephen McGuinness (OVR 59), Adam Wixted (OVR 58), Gavin Brennan (OVR 58)

Ones to watch: Thomas Byrne (OVR 55), Colm Deasy (OVR 55), Conor Kane (OVR 54), 

Transfer budget: £440,000

Wage budget: £5,000 a week

You know that mate you always beat on FIFA? Really put them in their place by playing with the worst team on the game – Drogheda United. With no player rated above 59 in their squad (and that’s their goalkeeper), you are going to have your work cut out with the Irish side. For those looking for the most challenging Career Mode of all, do note that every single player’s contract runs out at the end of the season, so you will need to plan your transfer business around that.

Honourable mention: Galway United

Best women’s team: United States Women

4.5 star, 82 overall, 78 attack, 86 midfield, 84 defence

Best players: Carli Lloyd (OVR 92), Megan Rapinoe (OVR 91), Becky Sauerbrunn (OVR 87)

Ones to watch: Julie Ertz (OVR 86), Morgan Brian (OVR 78), Mallory Pugh (OVR 72)

The reigning World Champions are comfortably the best women’s side in FIFA 18, with their entire first choice line-up rated over 80. With the quality of Tobin Heath (OVR 86) and Megan Rapinoe (OVR 91) out wide, Carli Lloyd (OVR 92) in midfield and Alex Morgan (86 finishing) putting them away up top, there is just so much quality in the USWNT. 

There’s stability at the back too, with Julie Ertz (OVR 86) and Becky Sauerbrunn (OVR 87) not giving attackers an inch. With the States being the giants of the women’s game, your opponents may drop off so you will need to patient with your play. Having so much quality on offer, it really is only a matter of time before you make that breakthrough. 

Honourable mention: Germany

Who’s your favourite team on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.

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