Electronic Arts is announcing several important initiatives at its Women’s Football Summit dedicated to advancing women’s football and advancing the game both on and off the field.
EA Sports has unveiled the Starting XI Fund, a growth fund dedicated to women’s football that aims to keep the game moving forward. To get the fund off the ground, EA Sports has pledged a US$11 million investment that will span games, leagues, clubs and athletes to further advance women’s football. EA Sports also announces that starting in 2023 it will fund a women’s football internship program with each new and existing women’s league partner, designed to inspire and empower young women from all backgrounds to get involved in the world of football.
“EA Sports is at the epicenter of the global football fan community and we recognize the role we play in representing and promoting diversity and participation in sport. Our commitment goes beyond the pitch, both virtual and online real world. The Starting XI Fund underscores our commitment to unmatched authenticity and representation in our games, and also demonstrates our focus on transforming the future of sport.”
Andrea Hopelain, SVP of Brand, EA Sports
EA Sports has also announced a multi-year partnership with the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL), which will allow both parties to offer an even more immersive experience to women’s football fans around the world. Coming in early 2023, “FIFA 23” will feature the knockout phase of the UWCL, with clubs like Juventus Women, Real Madrid Femenino, Chelsea Women, Manchester City Women, Olympique Lyonnais Féminine, Paris Saint-Germain Feminine and more.
“We are delighted that the UEFA Women’s Champions League will be integrated into FIFA 23. It is only logical that the best women’s club competition in the world should become part of the world’s leading football simulation game. This is another important step for women’s football and an ideal additional platform for the athletes who contribute to his success.”
Nadine Kessler, Head of Women’s Football at UEFA
It was also announced during the Women’s Football Summit that EA Sports has entered into a multi-year sponsorship partnership with DAZN to become the Global Broadcast Partner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The partnership begins in March, coinciding with the launch of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in “FIFA 23” and the quarter-finals of the competition. EA Sports advertising will appear on all global matchday broadcasts on DAZN and on DAZN’s UWCL YouTube channel. The partnership underscores EA Sports’ commitment to providing the best gaming experience to fans around the world.
“We are thrilled to officially announce EA SPORTS as DAZN’s newest global broadcast sponsor of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. We join a group of like-minded brands investing in the burgeoning ecosystem of women’s football. What EA SPORTS is doing, to advance women’s football is game-changing and we look forward to activating this new partnership to collectively reach, excite and inspire the next generation of millions of fans around the world.”
Shay Segev, CEO der DAZN Group
EA Sports recognizes the importance of authenticity and has strived to elevate the game for women. When FIFA 23 launched earlier this year, fans were able to play with the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Division 1 Arkema as women’s club sides, with the promise of more updates later in the season.
These partnerships underscore EA Sports’ commitment to elevating women’s football. Through the use of HyperMotion2 technology*, the movements of the women in the game are more responsive and realistic than ever before. Dedicated Advanced 11v11 Match Capture combined with machine learning was used to film an 11v11 women’s match in full intensity and deliver match animation reflecting realistic movements. This summer, EA Sports will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023, giving fans the chance to experience the pinnacle of international women’s football. In addition, Chelsea striker Sam Kerr makes history in FIFA 23 by becoming the first woman to appear on a worldwide cover of a FIFA game. Kerr also participated in the panel discussion at the EA Sports Women’s Football Summit: “Driving the Future of the Women’s Game” and spoke about how we can work together to advance women’s football on and off the field.
Developed by EA Vancouver and EA Romania, “FIFA 2″3 is available now worldwide for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
