FIFA president says its EA Sports FC rival will be ‘the best e-game for any girl or boy’

The president of FIFA has reiterated plans to create a new series of football games, and that it will be superior to EA’s series.

FIFA split from its partner EA after nearly 30 years, with FIFA 23 being the last EA Sports game to feature the FIFA branding on the title.

This year EA will be rebranding its series as EA Sports FC, claiming it will begin “a new era in July 2023”.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the next series with the FIFA name will set the new standard for football games.

The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler reports that, during his victory speech after his unopposed re-election as FIFA president, Infantino stated that the association would be launching a rival video game to EA Sports FC.

“The new FIFA game – the FIFA 25, 26, 27 and so on – will always be the best e-game for any girl or boy,” Infantino reportedly said, adding: “We will have news on this very soon.”

It’s not clear if Infantino’s comments, if quoted accurately, mean that FIFA is aiming for a 2024 release for its first game, to go head-to-head with what would be EA Sports FC 25.

In a strongly worded statement in May 2022, Infantino insisted that only games carrying the official FIFA license would be credible to fans of football.

“I can assure you that the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans,” he said at the time.

“The FIFA name is the only global, original title. FIFA 23, FIFA 24, FIFA 25 and FIFA 26, and so on – the constant is the FIFA name and it will remain forever and remain THE BEST.”

Further reading

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EA Sports reportedly close to signing ‘£500m deal’ with Premier League

The new deal would begin as the FIFA series is rebranded EA FC

In November 2022, FIFA announced that the first games to use its branding following the end of its partnership with EA would be four Web 3.0 blockchain titles.

VGC’s FIFA 23 review said: “EA improves on its predecessor for the umpteenth time, once again delivering the best football game around.

“The new power shots, the revamped set piece system and women’s club teams are welcome, but anyone expecting big changes will want to hope EA Sports FC 24 delivers.”