2D Football Wars Controls — Every Default Key for Both Players
Updated 2026-10-01 · Fan-made guide for 2D Football Wars · Not affiliated with Alpha Dolphin Games
2D Football Wars is built around local play, so the keyboard is split down the middle: Player 1 gets the left side (WASD cluster) and Player 2 gets the right side (arrows plus K/L). Every bind below is the game's default layout, and every one of them can be remapped in Settings. Gamepads are supported, and phones use touch controls in landscape.
Player 1 — default keys
The left half of the keyboard, WASD-first:
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Move left / right | A / D |
| Jump | W |
| Slide | S |
| Kick | E |
| Block | Q |
| Sprint | Left Shift |
| Powers 1–5 | 1 2 3 4 5 |
| Kick techniques 1–5 | Numpad 1–5 |
| Melee strikes 1–4 | Numpad 6–9 |
Player 2 — default keys
Player 2's kit sits on the arrow cluster and the right letter rows. Note that Player 2's kick techniques were deliberately moved off the numpad so Player 1 could own the melee row — the developers confirmed both layouts are rebindable either way:
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Move left / right | ← / → |
| Jump | ↑ |
| Slide | ↓ |
| Kick | K |
| Block | L |
| Sprint | Right Shift |
| Powers 1–5 | 6 7 8 9 0 |
| Kick techniques 1–5 | T Y U I O |
| Melee strikes 1–4 | N M , . |
What each input group does
The base five (move, jump, slide, kick, block) cover the whole core game — you can play and win matches without touching anything else. Powers (number keys) trigger your equipped special abilities, each on its own cooldown. Kick techniques and melee strikes are the advanced layer for style play: dedicated inputs for tricks, volleys and mêlée shoves that feed the style-combo system and specific unlock conditions (like the bicycle kick).
Gamepads and mobile
The game advertises 'gamepads supported' on its title screen, and the input manager handles gamepad devices alongside the keyboard — plug one in before the match and check the in-game Controls menu for the live mapping. On phones the game runs landscape-only with touch controls; if you hold the phone upright it shows a rotate prompt before the match starts.
Rebinding
Every keyboard action is rebindable in Settings. If you are playing 2-player on a cramped laptop, the highest-value remap is giving Player 1's melee row (numpad 6–9) a home on the main letter keys — laptop keyboards without a numpad make the default row unusable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2-player controls in 2D Football Wars?
Player 1 uses WASD + Q/E + Left Shift with powers on 1–5; Player 2 uses arrows + K/L + Right Shift with powers on 6–0. Both layouts are fully rebindable in Settings.
Does 2D Football Wars support controllers?
Yes — gamepads are supported. The game's settings screen says 'v1.1.0 · local 2-player · gamepads supported'. Connect the pad before starting and verify the mapping in the Controls menu.
Can I play on a laptop without a numpad?
Yes, but remap Player 1's kick-technique and melee keys: their defaults live on the numpad (1–5 and 6–9), which many laptops do not have. Settings lets you rebind every action.
How do I pause the game?
The pause menu (Esc on keyboard, or the on-screen pause icon) offers Resume, Restart Match, Settings and Quit to Menu. The Esc action is mirrored by an on-screen button for mouse and touch players.