It's not all that often that a developer releases a free DLC expansion for a recently released game, particularly when that developer happens to be Electronic Arts. Credit where credit's due though, the World Cup mode in FIFA 23 is an excellent addition and arrives just in time for the upcoming tournament in Qatar. Well, for everybody but Switch players, that is.
With ranked and unranked game modes to enjoy, players would do well to find a team that best suits their style of play. Whether that be calm and composed build-up play or quick counter-attacking football, there's a good chance that at least a couple of the best teams in FIFA 23's World Cup mode will have the players needed to accommodate it.
Argentina
After their success at the 2021 Copa America, Lionel Messi and his international teammates will be hoping for a strong showing in Qatar. On paper, they have one of the best teams at the tournament, and their performances over the past few years more than back this up.
Argentina head into the tournament having not lost in their last 35 matches; a run which dates back to July of 2019 and is just two games shy of Italy's record-holding 37-match unbeaten streak. Given that Messi is now 35, this will likely be his last ever World Cup and his final chance to get his hands on football's greatest prize.
Belgium
Belgium's golden generation looked like they were destined for greatness just a few years ago, but it just never quite happened for them. Though they looked fantastic at times, they've never been able to put together a consistent run of results and this remains true heading into the 2022 World Cup.
However, with players like Hazard, De Bruyne, and Lukaku in their ranks, only a fool would rule Belgium out completely. The red devils remain one of the best international teams in both FIFA 23 and in the real world and so they're far from a bad choice for players looking for a great five-star team.
Brazil
Brazil remains one of the most successful international teams in history, with five world cups to their name at the time of writing. Only a brave person would bet against them adding a sixth in Qatar, as although they may not be the out-and-out favorites, they still have a ridiculous amount of quality at their disposal.
Neymar is currently in the form of his life, while Vinicius Jr. and Raphina are both looking sharp as well. At the back, they have the experienced duo of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, who between them have 180 caps and spent several years playing alongside each other at club level with PSG.
England
After making it to the last four of the previous world cup and finishing as runners-up in Euro 2020, one might expect England fans to be optimistic about their chances in Qatar. However, the team heads into the tournament off the back of some truly awful performances, with some fans even calling for Gareth Southgate to be sacked.
Even so, England still has plenty of talent in its squad and remains one of the best international teams in FIFA 23's World Cup mode as a result. If Sterling can find some form and Kane and Foden can carry their club form into the tournament, anything is possible, even with Harry Maguire at the back.
France
On paper, France is the best team in FIFA 23's World Cup mode and are many people's favorites for lifting the trophy come December 19. Even without the injured Paul Pogba, there's an abundance of quality in every area of the pitch, particularly up top.
In Mbappé and Benzema, France has two of the highest-rated strikers in FIFA 23, which opposition defenders will likely be all too aware of. The likes of Antoine Griezman, Olivier Giroud, and Kingsley Coman aren't half bad either and are more than capable of picking up the slack if the front two do somehow fail to find the net.
Germany
It can sometimes feel as though the German national team is in a constant state of transition, which is perhaps why they've only won two major trophies in the past three decades. Granted, one of those was the 2014 World Cup, yet given some of the players they've had during that time, one can't help but feel as though they've underperformed.
Whether or not 2022 could be Germany's year remains to be seen, but there can be no denying that they have the talent to make something happen. Werner may have struggled during his brief stint in the Premier League, but he's back to his best now in Germany, and with Bayern Munich trio Sane, Muller, and Gnabry just behind, the goals will almost certainly be flowing.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is the weakest five-star team in FIFA 23's career mode, but Louis van Gaal's side has been known to punch well above its weight. The former Barcelona and Manchester United manager led his side to a shock third-place finish back in 2014 and will no doubt be hoping to go two better this time around.
Of course, Van Gaal had players like Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder at his disposal back then, but that's not to say that his current side is completely bereft of talent. Memphis Depay and Virgil Van Dijk are perhaps the two biggest names, but talented young winger Cody Gakpo is in phenomenal form heading into the tournament and so may well end up making a big impact in Qatar.
Portugal
Like his long-time rival Lionel Messi, Qatar 2022 will almost certainly be Cristiano Ronaldo's last ever World Cup. The record-breaking goalscorer will therefore be hoping to go out with a bang by adding to the European Championsip medal he picked up in 2016, not to mention his incredible 117 international goals.
With a midfield three of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Neves playing just behind him anything is possible, and it's not like this Portugal side is lacking talent at the back either. They're not quite the best team in FIFA 23's World Cup mode but they're not far off either, making them a solid option for anyone looking for a strong five-star team.
Spain
After dominating international football for more than half a decade, the Spanish national side is in a bit of an extended slump as of late. Sure, they still qualified for the tournament and have some exciting young players coming through, but few are expecting Luis Enrique's side to come close to lifting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Even so, they remain a more than capable team and could be deadly in the right player's hands. Pedri, Koke, and Busquets are all top-tier midfielders and provide a solid platform from which to build attacks, while Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres have the talent to tear through opposition defenders like tissue paper when they're in the mood to do so.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.