The eponymous comedy character of the series “Ted Lasso” actually has little idea about football, but that is exactly what characterizes the show’s success. In the future, parts of the series will also be featured in the “FIFA 23” video game.
The fictional soccer coach “Ted Lasso” from the comedy series of the same name will appear as a character in the most important soccer game “FIFA”. The character of the successful show on Apple TV will be playable in “FIFA 23”, said the game publisher Electronic Arts. The series ironically tells the story of a US football coach who turns an unsuccessful football club in England inside out. The character is portrayed by Jason Sudeikis.
A week ago, “Ted Lasso” won the “Emmy” for best comedy show for the second time in a row. The series has received eleven Emmys in total. This makes the series a flagship success for Apple as it tries to build its own video streaming service and compete with providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney.
Gamers will also be able to play with club AFC Richmond in the latest version of the long-running football video game “FIFA”, which will be released on September 30th. This fictional team is managed by Ted Lasso in the series. AFC Redmond’s Nelson Road Stadium also appears in the game for computers and game consoles. Other characters from the series will also appear in the game, including Roy Kent, a big-mouthed soccer player played by Brett Goldstein. “It’s so damn cool to be in ‘FIFA’,” Goldstein said in a statement.
However, the series will bear the title “FIFA” for the last time. In May, Electronic Arts terminated the partnership with the World Football Association. From the summer of 2023, the game will be marketed as “EA Sports FC”. As the developer announced, fans of the series should not have to do without the elementary components of the game even after the end of the partnership with FIFA. Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, and VOLTA Football will continue to be part of the game. The licenses with more than 19,000 players, over 700 teams, over 100 stadiums and 30 leagues will continue to exist. There are also exclusive partnerships with the Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and MLS.
As a reason for the separation, the Vice President of the brand, David Jackson, told the “Spiegel” that money was not the decisive factor. “I don’t think it was the deciding factor for either side.” “It’s important that we have the freedom to create the most immersive experiences possible,” said the manager. As a license partner of FIFA, this was “not necessarily possible” so far.
EA Sports sees itself slowed down by the fact that, due to the name deal, it cannot decide independently of the association which third-party companies it cooperates with for and around its football video game. “For example, if we want to partner with a specific sporting goods manufacturer, we need to work with whoever FIFA prefers,” Jackson said. “We want to make sure we’re onboarding many, many more brands and partners.” Ending the deal with FIFA is “a decision that EA Sports has made over a number of years,” Jackson said. There is no turning back, announcing the new name is not a negotiating tactic.
