eFootball 2026 introduserer endelig Smart Assist Matchmaking-filter

KONAMI has officially confirmed that eFootball 2026 will soon receive a long-requested matchmaking filter for Smart Assist users in eFootball League Divisions 1 through 3.

The feature is expected to arrive in an update scheduled between late May and early June 2026, marking one of the biggest competitive matchmaking changes introduced to the game in recent months.

For a long time, high-division players have criticized Smart Assist in ranked gameplay, arguing that competitive matches should rely more heavily on player skill rather than AI-supported mechanics.

Two Matchmaking Options Will Be Available

According to KONAMI’s announcement, players will soon be able to choose between two matchmaking settings.

Available options:

• “Same setting as mine” — matches players only against opponents using the same Smart Assist setting
• “Matchmake freely” — standard matchmaking without filtering Smart Assist preferences

The addition gives competitive players more control over the type of opponents they face in ranked divisions.

Competitive Community Welcomes the Change

The new filter has already generated strong reactions across the eFootball community, especially among players competing in the higher divisions.

Many players have expressed frustration over facing Smart Assist users in ranked matches, believing that AI assistance creates an uneven competitive environment.

The new system is widely seen as KONAMI finally acknowledging months of community feedback surrounding the feature.

Potential Matchmaking Problems Already Highlighted

Despite the positive reception, KONAMI also warned that the filter may create several matchmaking issues.

Because the player pool becomes smaller when filtering Smart Assist settings, players could experience:

• Longer queue times
• Reduced matchmaking quality
• Higher chances of unstable connections

This may become particularly noticeable in Divisions 1 to 3, where matchmaking quality already varies heavily depending on region and time of day.

As a result, some players may still choose the unrestricted “Matchmake freely” option simply to find matches faster.

A Major Loophole Still Exists

Another concern raised by players involves a possible loophole within the system.

Currently, players can reportedly begin matchmaking with Smart Assist disabled and then activate it once the match starts.

KONAMI’s announcement did not clarify whether this issue will be addressed alongside the new filter implementation, leaving some uncertainty around how effective the system will actually be in practice.

The Smart Assist Debate Is Far From Over

While the introduction of a matchmaking filter marks a major step for competitive integrity in eFootball 2026, the broader debate surrounding Smart Assist itself appears far from settled.

For now, however, competitive players are finally getting one of the most requested ranked matchmaking features the community has been asking for since Smart Assist became a controversial part of online play.