FIFA 21: Assessing Which Nation You Should Choose for Your Starter Pack

The new FIFA is finally upon us. If you listen closely, you can already hear the sound of a controller clattering against the wall as Weekend League takes another victim.

The beginning of the Ultimate Team cycle is always exciting - no one has any coins, no one knows what the meta is, and everyone is relying on hidden gems to get them through the early stages.

At the start of the game, everyone gets a starter pack, comprised of three common golds, two common silvers, and 16 common bronzes. You are offered a choice from nine different nations, which will determine the players you get. For those not willing to get their credit cards out, your starter pack selection could be vital to surviving the game's infancy.

Struggling on picking a nation? Well, no need to worry, because we're here to help you at 90min.

1. England

England are possibly the most popular starter pack choice / Haflidi Breidfjord/Getty Images

If you're hoping to build a Premier League team, then England will probably be the way forward for you.

There are 83 common gold English cards, with only 14 of them coming from outside the top flight. After a few games, you should be able to bag yourself a Michail Antonio or a Callum Wilson to go up front.

Not to mention, those who played FIFA 20 can secure themselves a three-game loan of Trent Alexander-Arnold, so you could use the highest rated full-back in the game right from the start.

2. Spain

Spain have the highest rated common players / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

If it's rating you're looking for, then Spain is the choice for you. Out of the 12 common cards rated 81 and above, four of them are Spanish - no other nation has more than one. This could be very useful for SBCs.

But this isn't the only reason why choosing Spain could be handy. The likes of Samu Castillejo and Junior Firpo look like very strong early options, and if you can save up for an Inaki Williams or a Marcos Llorente, then you'll be well on your way.

3. Germany

There are some strong German options / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Much like England, choosing Germany almost guarantees you three gold Bundesliga players.

The Bundesliga boasts a number of the best cheap beasts, especially in defence. Manuel Akanji, Ibrahima Konate, Nico Elvedi, and many more provide rock solid choices at centre-back.

With Erling Braut Haaland being one of the loan options for returning players, an early Bundesliga team could be unstoppable.

Furthermore, there's the possibility that you could get Ralf Fahrmann in your starter pack, and as every FIFA player knows, he's always inexplicably good.

4. France

France were one of the most popular nations in FIFA 20 / Xavier Laine/Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe, Wissam Ben Yedder, N'Golo Kante, Ferland Mendy, Raphael Varane - France held some of FIFA 20's most popular names, and we can expect the same this year.

There are 89 common gold French cards spread across 11 different leagues, so this would be perfect choice if you're looking to build a hybrid. Furthermore, the potential for growth is seemingly endless.

5. Italy

Could Italy be the choice for you? / Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Italy aren't exactly blessed with overpowered FUT cards this year, but nonetheless they could still be the right choice for one main reason: they have possibly the best common card in the game - that card being Fabio Quagliarella.

Sure, he's not blessed with pace, but with a frankly obscene 85 shooting, he simply won't miss.

6. Portugal

Portugal could be a good outside shout / Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images

While the majority will build squads from the major leagues, it could be a better idea to pick up cheaper options from the lesser-used divisions.

If you choose Portugal for your starter pack, it will likely send you down the route of the Liga NOS - a league which possesses many great cards at cheap prices. For example, Grimaldo and Rafa are already under 3000 coins, and they look like some of the best players in their position.

7. Netherlands

The Dutch are another outside shout for strong starter pack / JOHN THYS/Getty Images

Similarly to Portugal, picking the Netherlands could push you towards the Eredivisie - another lesser-used league with plenty of strong players.

In fact, you can acquire Andre Onana, Nicolas Tagliafico, Quincy Promes, and Dusan Tadic all for a combined total of about 10,000 coins, which you should be able to afford after a couple of weeks.

8. Brazil

Brazil have always been popular on FUT / KARIM SAHIB/Getty Images

The Brazilians have always dominated Ultimate Team. Whether it be the FIFA 12 Brasilver days of Maikon Leite and Marlos, FIFA 13's centre-back pairing of Dede and Felipe Santana, Neymar pretty much every year, or the unstoppable Prime Icon cards of Ronaldo and Pele.

There's no reason why FIFA 21 will be any exception. So, if you wish to set yourself up for another year of Brazilian flair, you know who to pick.

9. Argentina

Argentina are probably the weakest of the starter pack options / AFP/Getty Images

Out of the starter pack options, Argentina are probably the weakest. Their common cards aren't particularly exciting, and the Argentinian Primera Division only has 12 golds.

However, there are Argentinian common golds in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and La Liga among others, so there is still potential for expansion.