European soccer's governing body UEFA has extended the women's soccer element of its licensing deal with video game developer Electronic Arts.
Through a multi-year tie-up unveiled yesterday, the EA Sports brand will continue to feature the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) clubs competition, as well as the UEFA Women's European Championship national teams tournament, in its EA Sports FC (EAFC) video game title.
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Both properties will, therefore, feature in the EA Sports FC 26 video game, which will be released on September 26.
The current women's soccer partnership between UEFA and Electronic Arts began in 2022 and entailed the UWCL appearing in EA Sports titles for the very first time.
A deal covering UEFA's men's competitions, meanwhile, ran through last season.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, executive director of marketing, has now said: "Continuing our collaboration with EA is an exciting opportunity to keep driving the growth of women’s football after a very successful UEFA Women’s Champions League season and UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
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By GlobalData"We look forward to fans and gamers alike continuing to experience the thrill of these two flagship UEFA women’s competitions in one of the world’s most popular video games.”
In terms of women's soccer commercial activity at UEFA, earlier this month, leading telecoms operator Vodafone significantly expanded its commercial relationship with European soccer's governing body.
Vodafone has become a major partner of the overall UEFA women's soccer commercial program, in a deal which covers the 2029 Women's Euros (for which a host nation will be appointed in December) as well as the next five editions of the UWCL.
James Taylor, EA Sports' director of football partnerships, added: "The UEFA Women’s Champions League is the pinnacle of women’s club football, and bringing it to life in-game reflects our commitment to celebrating and elevating the women’s game for fans everywhere.”
September has already seen Scottish soccer’s SPFL organizing body renew its partnership with EA Sports, extending its licensing agreement for EAFC on multi-year terms.
EAFC was launched in September 2023 as a replacement for the developer’s FIFA series following the conclusion of its partnership with soccer’s international governing body.
Earlier this week, the video game title also extended its relationship with Spanish soccer heavyweights Atletico Madrid, in advance of the release of EAFC 26.
The relationship between Atleti and EA Sports first began in 2017.
The Madrid club has now said that through this deal, the two parties will "continue collaborating in creating digital content and trying to surprise our fans."
