The National Women’s Soccer League reached a significant milestone recently with its announced inclusion in FIFA 23. The award winning gaming series has been on the go since 1993, and is widely acknowledged as the biggest soccer gaming franchise in the world.
Fans who are unfamiliar with Electronic Arts’ FIFA series might understate the significance of this development.
Make no mistake, this is a huge moment for the NWSL. FIFA 23 is the final instalment of the game under the FIFA mantle, with the franchise set to drop the title and rebrand as EA Sports FC in 2024.
The split comes as FIFA has become embroiled in controversy after controversy, particularly around the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the failed attempt to have ‘Visit Saudi’ as a sponsor for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Whilst it must be noted that the announcement of EA’s split from FIFA pre-dates both of those stories, you do have to wonder if the dichotomy of polemic, and frankly delusional, speech coming from FIFA in relation to workers’ rights and the rights LGBTQ+ people in Qatar, in the build up to the World Cup, contributed to the decision. Although, I must disclose, neither party has ever said anything officially pointing that out.
The FIFA gaming series, simply put, is the pre-eminent soccer simulator in the gaming world. This year’s instalment is set to become the series’ best selling title to date; 10.3 million copies were sold in the first week alone.
What does this mean for the NWSL? Well, it’s really quite simple. Exposure. FIFA 23 ended 2022 as one of the highest selling games in the United States.
EA is putting the league, its clubs and its players into millions of gaming consoles worldwide. The game has done wonders for the WSL, including having Chelsea, and former Chicago Red Stars, striker Sam Kerr next to PSG forward Kylian Mbappe on the game’s global cover. Imagine next year’s (EA Sports FC), having Sophia Smith in a Portland Thorns jersey on the global cover? Heck, even the regional cover.
The exposure this video game gives the NWSL is massive.
EA has noted that they experience surges in consumer interest for increased women’s soccer content on its flagship title, around major international tournaments. They expect another during the 2023 World Cup.
Millions more soccer fans playing FIFA, with the NWSL now included.
This is a huge deal for the league.
Let’s goooo! So hype for this, drop ur namer tag if ur tryna get worked 🎮🎮🎮 https://t.co/FzgdunSl5y
— Erika Tymrak (@eTYMrak) March 7, 2023
The players have been having their say, since the announcement. Particularly since the player’s individual ratings were released.
As well as exposing the clubs and their players to millions of gamers, it also helps to drive positive conversation around the women’s game on social media.
The league’s inclusion in the game is another badge of honour for the NWSL, which is looking to put recent controversies in the rearview mirror.
This announcement definitely should have happened sooner, but we can all be glad that it has. As well as increasing league exposure, the league’s inclusion in one of the world’s most popular video games increases revenue. Revenue which can go towards better practice and the development of the women’s game in the United States.
It also sends a clear message. A message to any would be, aspiring young female soccer players: ‘this is what you can strive for’.
And that’s perhaps the best thing of all.
Written by Dan Berridge
