Passing is arguably the most important skill in FIFA 22. Shooting is also key but serves little use if you can’t move the ball downfield. FIFA’s robust passing system has always been a franchise trademark. This year’s edition offers even more ways to carve open the defense through unique passes.

There are four basic passes in FIFA 22 — ground passes, through passes, crosses, and lobs. Each type has advanced mechanics that you can use to add spin, power, or other effects to the ball. Let’s improve your ball possession through basic passing tips. Plus, more advanced techniques.

How to Pass: Basic tips

• Press either the X (ground pass), Triangle (through pass), or Square (cross) buttons to execute each pass. The lob pass requires two inputs: L1 and Triangle.
• Hold the button down to increase the pass’s power.
• Use the analog stick to aim in the direction of your target player.

What is a ground pass?

Ground passes (press X) travel somewhat slowly on the ground and in a straight line. You’ll likely use them around 75% of the time in most matches. Players might even automatically kick the ball away from defenders, so the target player may have to move to receive the pass. Ground passes are almost necessary for efficient downfield movement.

When to ground pass?

It is possible to win matches with only ground passes. Use several in quick succession to confuse defenders and free one of your attackers for a run towards the goal. You can also use backwards ground passes to reset your offense if there isn’t an opening.

When to avoid ground passes?

Avoid ground passes when there is a defender guarding closely in front of you. They might intercept the pass if you kick it in their direction. The best ground passes are short. Long passes to wingers on the other side of the pitch are far more likely to get stolen long before they reach your target.

Driven ground pass

Driven ground passes (press R1 + X) increase the ball’s speed and strength, but may harm your control. Use them to push the ball quicker downfield for breakaways.

Lofted ground pass

Lofted ground passes (quickly tap X twice) put some air on your pass, so that it is not skidding completely on the ground. Perform one when your target is some distance away. It has a better chance of grazing over the defender’s foot.

Pass and go move

Press L1 and X to do a “pass and go” move. The passer will sprint towards the goal immediately after making the pass. This is useful when rapidly making passes to open up the offense.

Flair pass

Hold L2 and X to perform a flair pass. These flashy passes serve little use other than styling on opponents.

What is a through pass?

A through pass (press Triangle) is similar to a ground pass except it cuts through the defense. Through passes travel on the ground but take more ambitious angles to their target. Players will automatically weave balls through the holes in the defense. Through passes almost always advance toward the goal. They also tend to have more speed and power than ground passes.

When to through pass?

Through passes are the second most common passes in FIFA. They are best for attacks after the defense has been opened up. Find open teammates with a through ball to continue the push forward, especially when threatening in the box. You can lead teammates directly into shots if they have enough space. It only takes one well-placed through ball to create a scoring opportunity.

When to avoid through passes?

Through passes don’t work in the same situations as ground passes or even as an exclusive option to maintain possession. If a player isn’t open or prepared, the through pass will likely roll out of bounds. Frequently chasing these passes isn’t the best option either. Be selective to save your team’s stamina.

Through balls will not automatically carve through the defense. Make sure your players run away from their defenders and toward the goal before you target them.

Advanced through passes

Through passes have similar advanced mechanics to ground passes:

• Tap Triangle twice to loft the pass slightly into the air.
• Threaded through passes (press R1 and Triangle) add extra spin on the ball to slice through tighter windows.

They may come in handy if you are down late and need to make more ambitious pass attempts for unlikely goals.

What is a cross pass?

Crosses (press Square) travel over defenders’ heads typically to reach teammates at long distances. While they can make for some easy goals, there is quite a bit of nuance to mastering these airbourne passes.

When to cross pass?

Crosses are very situational compared to ground and through passes. Start at the wing near the final third, then launch your cross to an open teammate in the box. Players will aim to score with a header or force the defense out of position for a follow up shot. Crosses can even cause deflections off defenders that result in own goals. Most of these passes will not find their targets and require some luck to succeed.

Other cross tactics

You can also use crosses to literally cross the ball to the other side of the pitch. This is helpful for counter attacks after you secure possession with a defender or midfielder. Launch the ball toward your striker and see if they can get a touch on it for a better position downfield.

Crosses are also the primary passes used by goalkeepers to reach players downfield. You can even use crosses as an alternative to clearing the ball on defense. Your player will kick the ball downfield but keep it in play rather than out of bounds. This gives your teammates a chance to win possession.

When to avoid crosses?

Crosses are not consistent passes. They are hard to precisely aim towards teammates and even if you do, you might send the ball sailing over their head. The long hang time also makes them difficult to receive because defenders can box out your players for a head on the ball.

Use crosses to finish off attacks with plays on goal. Your success rate on crosses will likely be under 50%, but scoring off one is a beautiful moment in FIFA. Top players will often perform incredible volleys off crosses, including bicycle kicks.

Cross pass variations

• Like ground passes, press R1 and Square to do a driven cross.
• High crosses (press L1 + Square) add extra air to your pass. This gives both your teammate and defenders more time to track the ball down, so use it when you have a bit of a physical lead.
• Tap Square twice for a ground cross. This version bounces the ball off of the ground and can create tricky situations for opponents to defend.
• Hold R1 while performing the ground cross for a driven ground cross.
• Execute whipped crosses via Square while holding R1 and L1. These have a bit more curve to them and are ideal for setting up headers on goal.

Lob pass

The lob pass (press L1 + Triangle) is one of the best kept secrets in FIFA. This variant of the through pass travels high in the air like a cross. The key difference is that lobs are designed to sail over the defense’s back line. This gives your strikers and wingers a chance to run past the defense while tracking the ball in open space. A successful lob ideally creates a 1-on-1 scenario between your attacker and the goalkeeper.

Now that you have an extensive repertoire of passes down, it’s time to test your skills for exclusive prizes in the Open Series!