To help prevent a club from sinking in the standings, players will be able to negotiate with literally thousands of athletes to develop the next crop of superstars. Recruiting is a key part of the Master League mode, as athletes on each team will suffer injuries, grow older, and eventually retire. Players can decide to build a team from the ground up or guide an existing club, including new additions Chelsea and Arsenal, in its goal to become league champion.

The development team has tweaked the controls, formations, and animations for the ninth installment, but longtime fans will focus instead on the changes to the Master League mode, where players can embark on multiple seasons with increased management options. Konami's acclaimed soccer franchise continues with World Soccer Winning Eleven 9, which for the first time includes online support for ranked matches and tournaments against players from around the world.