EA Sports is pledging $11 million toward growing women’s soccer as part of a wider promotional bid centered on the recently releasedFIFA 23, the company announced earlier this week. In addition to that substantial investment, the industry giant also revealed thatFIFA 23is scheduled to receive official UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) content starting early next year.
FIFA 23is the seventh game in the series to feature women’s soccer, but also the first to expand it beyond national teams; The Barclays FA Women’s Super League and French Division 1 Arkema have been fully playable sinceFIFA 23had its hugely successful launchin late September, with EA Sports promising to introduce more women’s competitions to the game in the coming months. The addition of UWCL is the first such DLC officially confirmed by the company.
RELATED:FIFA 23 Makes Huge Hero Pack Mistake
Starting next year, EA Sports will also be offering an internship program meant to drive women’s involvement in the sport. The details of that initiative are still scarce, though the company did confirm that the program will be financed in collaboration with its existing and future league partners, separately from the newly announced fund.
As for the incoming arrival of UWCL, itsFIFA 23debut is scheduled for March, coinciding with the start of its real-life knockout stages. The move is meant to denote the start of a “multi-year partnership” with the competition, the publisher said. Meaning this gameplay mode will also be featured in the first-everEA Sports FCgame, which is how the franchise will be called afterEA’s FIFA license expires in 2023.Likewise, the company’s investments in women’s soccer are expected to continue post-rebranding.
All of this makesFIFA 23the most seminal game in the franchise in terms of female representation ever sinceFIFA 16originally introduced women’s national teams. Doubly so because this year’s entry is also the first to feature a female player on its global cover, withthat honor going to Chelsea star Sam Kerr.
FIFA 23is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
