EA SPORTS continues to expand its commitment to women’s football. Partnerships, expansions and investments were announced at the “Women’s Summit” in London.
2023, not only the already announced Women’s World Cup is to appear as an update in FIFA 23, but also the UEFA Women’s Champions League. During the panel discussions at the “Women’s Summit” in London, EA SPORTS announced a multi-year partnership between the developer and the European Football Association for the highest international division for women’s club teams.
This is to enable both parties to “deliver a sustainable experience to women’s football fans around the world.” From early 2023, EA plans to make the knockout stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League available for end-of-game play in FIFA 23. The tournament will flush more top-class women’s teams into the football simulation, such as Juventus Women and Real Madrid Femenino – Bayern Munich was also featured in the inset.
“Feels like a natural fit “
UFA’s Head of Women’s Football, Nadine Kessler, is delighted with the integration of the competition: “It feels like a natural fit for the world’s best club competition for women to be part of the world’s leading football simulation. This is another great step in women’s football and an ideal additional platform for the athletes. “
The integration of the Champions League is accompanied by a partnership with the sports streaming provider “DAZN” as a sponsor, also lasting several years. Both collaborations thus also apply to the new era of the game under the name EA SPORTS FC, which will start at the end of 2023.
Investment in the future
In addition to the integrations within the football simulation, EA SPORTS unveiled the Starting XI Fund, an investment in women’s football. This, he said, is designed to “move football forward.” EA SPORTS has committed $11 million to this fund, which the game series will include as investments in leagues, clubs and athletes “to further enhance women’s football. “
In addition, EA SPORTS announced its intention to fund an internship programme with each new and existing women’s league partner for women’s football from 2023 “to inspire and help young women with diverse circumstances enter the world of football.”
“EA SPORTS is the epicentre of global football fandom. We recognise the role we play in representing and increasing diversity and participation in sport,” said Andrea Hopelain, SVP of Brand, EA SPORTS. “The Starting XI Fund reaffirms our commitment to unrivalled authenticity and representation in our games and also demonstrates our focus on driving change for the future of sport.”
Panel guest and FIFA 23 cover star Sam Kerr said he hoped that with the multi-faceted engagements within the sport, in ten years’ time there would be no distinctions made between the men and the women and everyone would just be talking about football. In addition to a male footballer, a woman on the cover? “That should be the norm,” says the Australian international.