The Best Football Board Games to Play in 2025 |

There’s nothing quite like football. The drama. The tactics. The screaming at your TV when the ref clearly didn’t see that handball. But while we wait for the next big match, there’s a different way to get your football fix… and no, it doesn’t involve lacing up your boots or arguing with strangers on Twitter.

We’re talking football board games.

In 2025, board games aren’t just about rolling dice and moving pieces—they’re full-on experiences. Whether you’re dreaming of running your own club, shouting tactics like a touchline genius, or flicking tiny players into the top corner, there’s something out there for every type of football fan.

So, grab your friends, clear the table, and let’s look into the best football board games you need to play this year.

Contents

Counter Attack
The Perfect Game for Every Fan

Counter Attack

Players: 2
Game Time: 45–90 minutes
Type: Strategic, turn-based football simulation

The Best Football Board Games to Play in 2025

This one’s for the thinkers. Counter Attack isn’t about luck. It’s about knowing your players, your formation, and how to exploit every inch of the pitch. You take control of an entire squad, each player with unique stats—speed, tackling, passing—and guide them to victory on a gridded board that feels like a manager’s dreamland.

And it’s not just about attack.

You have to defend smartly, control space, and adapt on the fly when things go sideways. With 2025 expansion packs offering new teams, wild scenarios (think underdog cup runs or injury crises), and extra challenges, Counter Attack keeps getting better.

Why it’s a hit:
It’s the closest thing to being a real football manager, without needing to yell at referees or wear a suit on the sidelines.

Football Billionaire (3rd Edition)

Players: 2–6
Ages: 6+
Type: Fast-paced, club-building, trading game

Imagine Monopoly, but with transfer deadlines, sponsorship deals, and player swaps. That’s Football Billionaire in a nutshell. You buy clubs, build your dream team, invest in stadiums, and try to become the richest, most powerful owner in the game.

This 3rd edition polishes the formula, adds new player cards, and gives you even more tools to wheel and deal your way to football glory. You’ll have to negotiate, take risks, and maybe even stab a friend in the back with a cheeky last-minute transfer.

Why it’s a hit:
It captures the money and madness of modern football, and it’s perfect for family game night.

Football Billionaire – Match Attax Edition

Players: 2–6
Ages: 6+
Type: Trading card strategy game

If you already have a Match Attax card collection (or your kids do), this game is basically built for you. It takes the Football Billionaire framework and layers on top your actual trading cards.

Use your own players, build your squad, and compete to rise to the top. The gameplay is simple enough for younger players but sneaky enough to keep adults hooked.

Why it’s a hit:
You finally get to use all those cards for more than just bragging rights.

World Football Stars Guess Who?

Players: 2
Type: Quick, character-based guessing game

Here’s one that’s light on rules but heavy on laughs. Guess Who? gets the football treatment with 24 of the world’s most famous players.

You’ll ask questions like, “Is he bald?” “Does he play in Spain?” “Does he look like he’s just missed a sitter?”

Games go quick, which means it’s perfect between longer game sessions or as a warm-up before the big ones.

Why it’s a hit:
It’s simple, fast, and unexpectedly hilarious when someone seriously tries to argue whether Messi has a beard or not.

Football Champions

Players: 1–4
Game Time: 45 minutes–3 hours
Type: Trivia, tournament simulation, reflex game

Football Champions is like the World Cup in a box. You pick a national team and try to take them through group stages and knockouts, answering trivia, managing your squad, and even playing physical challenges like penalty shootouts.

It’s part quiz, part strategy, and part action. Great for families, competitive friends, and trivia junkies who like their games with a side of passion.

Why it’s a hit:
You get to show off your football knowledge and feel like you’re managing a real team through the tournament of a lifetime.

Subbuteo

Players: 2
Game Time: Varies
Type: Physical skill game

If you’ve never played Subbuteo, you’re missing out on a beautifully chaotic experience. You flick miniature players around a felt pitch, trying to pass, dribble, and score. No dice. No cards. Just you, your fingers, and gravity.

The 2025 version looks sharper than ever, with updated kits, licensed teams, and improved player figures. It’s retro in the best way—pure, hands-on fun.

Why it’s a hit:
It’s football unplugged. Zero screens. All skills.

The Perfect Game for Every Fan

Board games have come a long way from roll-and-move basics. These football board games capture everything we love about the sport, from tactical brilliance to business drama to absolute silliness.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for choosing your next obsession:

Game	Vibe	Best For
Counter Attack	Tactical, deep	Football purists & strategy nerds
Football Billionaire (3rd Ed.)	Fast, fun	Families & competitive friends
Match Attax Edition	Customizable	Card collectors & kids
Football Champions	Quiz meets action	Trivia lovers & solo players
Guess Who: Football Stars	Light & funny	Kids, casual fans, icebreakers
Subbuteo	Hands-on	Nostalgic players & flick masters