EA Sports has been in the soccer business for years, and business is good. The company is giving back to the game millions of us love with EA Sports FC Futures, an initiative to grow football starting on the community level.
More than 500,000 people have participated in the program since it launched in 2023. This year it added 11 new online practices inspired by FC 25 practice drills. Don't laugh, some of the world's best athletes have admitted they use games such as Madden NFL and MLB The Show to practice real-world scenarios.
The digital library of in-game drills, which are replicable in real life, includes courses on overload defense, playing the through pass, and crossing into the danger zone.
FC Futures refurbished eight community pitches, including one in the flood-ravaged city of Valencia, Spain.
“In just two years, FC FUTURES has demonstrated the powerful impact football can have beyond our EA SPORTS FC game, making a positive difference to hundreds of thousands of people,” said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP, Publishing, EA SPORTS.
“We’re creating lifelong sports fans not only through our game, but by actively supporting and growing grassroots football around the world. By bringing together our digital game with real-world coaching expertise, we’re democratizing access to football training and reimagining coach education in a truly unique way, which is both impactful and incredibly relatable for the next generation.”
I give EA Sports a lot of grief on this site, and to be fair they earn it. But credit where it's due, this seems like a really good program that takes care of the generation of footballers. I won't be surprised to see one of the kids in FC Futures as a playable athlete in EA Sports FC 35.