This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.

FC Online is a good fit for football fans who want to build their own team around players they like, and for players who want to control matches directly and compete for wins. It works well for both because you can add the players you support to your squad, and because there are different ways to enjoy the game depending on your preferences, from team building to hands-on play.

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To be honest, I am not especially knowledgeable about football either. I could not explain complex tactics in detail, and it would probably be more accurate to say that I simply like teams with Son Heung-min on them. So my 기준 for football games is simple too. The first thing I look for is whether I can play matches with players I know and like.

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With that kind of beginner perspective in mind, I looked through the official information this time and organized what kind of players FC Online may suit best.

If this sounds like you	Content worth checking out	Why it is recommended
You have a favorite player like Son Heung-min	Player recruitment and squad building	You can build a team around the player you like
You want to learn the controls step by step	AI matches in KICK OFF	You can ease into it by choosing the opponent difficulty
You are interested in player positioning and tactics	Official Match Manager Mode	You compete with other club owners through team setup and tactics
You like competing through direct control	Official Match 1vs1	You can make your own passing, shooting, and defensive decisions
You want to play a football game with a friend	KICK OFF friend invite	You can enjoy a 1vs1 match with someone you know

If you are the kind of person who thinks of a favorite player first, like I do, it makes sense to start by planning a team around that player. You might imagine a Korea national team with Son Heung-min in it, or a lineup built around players from his Tottenham years. In fact, Son Heung-min’s profile in the official Data Center includes a summary of his club career, including Tottenham.

One thing to keep in mind is that not every Son Heung-min card is the same. Depending on the class and enhancement level, it is worth comparing both stats and price. Rather than aiming for the most expensive card right away, it may be easier to start with one you can bring in within your current BP. Player stats can be checked in the Data Center on the official website.

If you are not very familiar with football, even figuring out how to fill out a team can feel overwhelming. In that case, you can first sketch out your lineup with the Squad Maker on the official website, or look at other users’ squads for reference. If it were me, I would pick Son Heung-min first and then fill in the surrounding positions. Even having one favorite player gives you a much clearer starting point for building a team.

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That said, having a team and playing well are separate things. Even if the player names are familiar, you still have to learn when to pass and which player to move while defending. If that feels like a lot for a beginner, it is probably best to start with KICK OFF mode.

In KICK OFF, you can choose both the AI opponent’s club and difficulty. You can also move into basic training through the controls tutorial. On top of that, because national team quick squads are available, including Korea, you can try matches with a completed team before recruiting players one by one. These national team quick squads are used in designated content such as KICK OFF and the Custom Hub.

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For someone like me, who is not yet comfortable with either football knowledge or the controls, this seems like a better way to start. You can begin by linking a few passes together and taking some shots, then work out which parts of the game you enjoy most. If you start worrying about rankings from the beginning, everything you need to learn can feel more complicated than it needs to.

On the other hand, if you enjoy thinking about player placement and tactics, Official Match Manager Mode is worth a look. In this mode, you do not control the players directly. Instead, you compete against other club owners based on the squad and tactics you have set up. It lowers the burden of direct control, but because you are still competing against other users in the rankings, it suits players who enjoy thinking through how to run their team.

If you prefer to handle matches yourself, then Official Match 1vs1 will likely be a better fit. It is a mode where you decide for yourself whether to pass, carry the ball farther, or take a shot, and compete with your opponent through those choices. If you are the kind of player who enjoys practicing the controls and improving your skill, this side will probably feel more interesting.

There is also an option for people looking for a football game to play with friends. In KICK OFF, you can play a 1vs1 match with a friend using an invite code. Simply choosing your favorite teams and facing each other is enough to make the match feel fun and purposeful. Especially if you are still learning, playing a few matches with someone you know while talking through the controls sounds like a solid way to start.

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For me, the clearest recommendation is still “someone who may not know football well, but does have a favorite player.” If you are at the stage of building a team around Son Heung-min and getting familiar with recognizable players one by one, that already feels like a good enough reason to begin. From there, if playing matches directly is what you enjoy, you can learn the controls more deeply. If team building is more appealing, you can spend more time on squad composition.