Tag: #football

EA SPORTS CELEBRATES A NEW ERA FOR THE WORLD’S GAME WITH EPIC EA SPORTS FC 24 SOUNDTRACK

Today, Electronic Arts Inc. revealed the official soundtrack of EA SPORTS FC™ 24, defining a new era with the sounds of The World’s Game. The soundtrack features songs from a global list of artists, both beloved and upcoming, that will inspire players throughout EA SPORTS FC 24.

Featuring over 100 artists from around the globe, with an unprecedented cross-section of genres, the far-reaching track list showcases a range of global hitmakers, from Major Lazer to The Blessed Madonna and The Rolling Stones. Other superstar artists include multiple BET, MOBO, MTV Europe and Q Award-winner Stormzy, multi-Platinum megastar Jack Harlow, Grammy winner Baby Keem with 17x Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar and Latin Grammy Award winner Karol G. It also brings together multi-Diamond rapper Ninho ft. 2x Ivor Novello Award winner Central Cee as well as breakout artists including Indian pop sensation King, indie rock knockouts The Last Dinner Party,  Obongjayar, and hot rapper KayCyy, plus unreleased tracks by producer Barry Can’t Swim ft. Surya Sen, Michaël Brun, and many more.

Each track and artist represent EA SPORTS FC’s ambitions to create a truly international soundscape that defines the global nature of football and musical influences. As the power of unique football styles like Total Football and Brazilian flair transcends continents, so too does Afrobeats to Reggaeton to Grime.

“The premiere of EA SPORTS FC 24 delivers a definitive global soundtrack that builds on innovation and authenticity like never before,” says Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive and President of Music for Electronic Arts. “We’ve curated a player experience that celebrates diversity and discovery via new music & artists that defies genres, erases borders, creates football culture, and powers football life. It’s the next chapter in The World’s Game, set to music like never before.”

The full EA SPORTS FC 24 soundtrack is now available on Spotify and other streaming platforms. Listen on Spotify here.

EA SPORTS FC 24 will be available to play on September 29, 2023 with early access through the Ultimate Edition available as of September 22, 2023. Pre-orders* are now available for EA SPORTS FC™ 24 which will launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See here for details.

EA SPORTS FC FUTURES – A Plan To Invest $10M Globally To Grow Community Football

Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced FC FUTURES; a plan to meaningfully invest in community-level football on a global scale with the purpose of growing the game for all.

The plan will see investments over the next three years across multiple grassroots football projects. This announcement follows EA SPORTS’s new brand identity, logo and vision reveal for the interactive future of football: EA SPORTS FC.

“EA SPORTS FC is a symbol for a positive future of football, and that future will be built on providing young people with the access and tools necessary to follow their dreams,” said David Jackson, VP of Brand Marketing at EA SPORTS. “We are looking forward to partnering with football organisations and icons across the globe to inspire the next generation of young football fans and grow their love of the game.”

Today was the first of many FC FUTURES activations as EA SPORTS and the Football Foundation, the charity of The Premier League, The FA and UK Government unveiled the ‘Rocky and Wrighty Arena’ at Turnham Academy in South London. Opened by England legend Ian Wright, the pitch will provide additional football access for youth in the area and help inspire the next generation of players.

FC FUTURES will build a publicly-available library of training practices, produced in five languages, that will be available later this year for young players and community coaches to view online and use for their training plans.

Additionally, FC FUTURES will provide community access to football by supporting the creation and refurbishment of pitches, facilitated and distributed through foundations, federations and leagues.

Lastly, FC FUTURES will invest in grassroots training accessories which will deliver football equipment in the form of balls, bibs, cones and wider essential equipment.

EA SPORTS has agreed to a multi-year partnership with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to further support community level football through consultancy from UEFA Grassroots Football Coaches and investment in UEFA Grassroots football initiatives.

“We are excited to partner with EA SPORTS and their EA SPORTS FC FUTURES programme”, said Frank K. Ludolph, Head of Technical Development at UEFA. “Through our team of UEFA technical education experts, we will work hand-in-hand with our long-term partner, EA SPORTS, to enhance our support for the grassroots game. This partnership is an exciting opportunity for UEFA’s Grassroots Programme to provide an innovative access to modern and customised training materials for the benefit of the next generation of grassroots players and fans.”

Ian Wright alongside world-renowned Chelsea Women’s Manager, Emma Hayes are the first FC FUTURES ambassadors who will work with EA SPORTS to provide further support for grassroots football.

“I’m delighted to be an ambassador for EA SPORTS FC FUTURES ” said Ian Wright. “This is where football starts, right here in our communities and investing in the game is a crucial step toward advancing global football. That starts with providing kids access to much-needed facilities in order for them to be able to play as much as possible in safe, local spaces. I’m grateful my old school can play a part in the future of football, and it’s an honour to be involved.”

“Growing up in London, I was always looking for a way to get onto the pitch,” said Emma Hayes. “I’m ecstatic that women and underrepresented talent are getting the resources many of us didn’t. FC FUTURES is a fantastic way to provide opportunities for the next generation of fans to explore and further their passion for football, and it makes me proud to be an FC FUTURES ambassador. I believe that investments like this have the power to change lives.”

EA SPORTS has defined interactive football for 30 years and built a global football community of more than 150 million across multiple platforms – a community that EA SPORTS FC will now continue to grow alongside partners who share a common goal of a fan-first future of football. Built on a foundation of inclusivity and innovation, fans will experience unrivalled authenticity with access to more than 19,000 fully licensed players, 700 teams and 30 leagues, with the support of over 300 global football partners that will allow further expansion into new areas around both women’s and grassroots football.

Fans can sign up at easports.com/fc to Join the Club and be one of the first to learn more, ahead of detailed product updates coming this July.

INTRODUCING EA SPORTS FC – The next chapter of the worlds game

Today, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: EA) unveiled a first glimpse of the interactive future of football, with EA SPORTS FC™ revealing its new brand vision, identity and logo. FC will become EA SPORTS platform to create, innovate and grow new football experiences, connecting hundreds of millions of fans through console, mobile, online and esports products.

Join the Club. Sign up at easports.com/fc

Over the coming days, the EA SPORTS FC brand will debut in more than 100 matches across the biggest leagues in the world. Football fans will see the new brand identity in the wild for the first time through EA SPORTS partners, including the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, WSL, NWSL, CONMEBOL and more. Voices from across the world of global football are joining EA SPORTS to begin a new era for the game, with hundreds of leagues, teams, brands and athletes sharing the EA SPORTS FC logo through their platforms today.

“This is where the story of EA SPORTS FC begins. We’re building on 30 years of leadership and history creating experiences that bring the global football community together, and continuing to take it into a fan-first future,” said Nick Wlodyka, SVP & GM, EA SPORTS FC. “EA SPORTS FC will be a symbol for the sport, a symbol of innovation and change, and we’re energized to show our fans more about the future in July.”

The new brand takes its design inspiration directly from the beautiful game and a dominant shape in football culture that represents the sport in multiple dimensions, triangles. From passing techniques to set plays, the shape has also been woven into the DNA of EA SPORTS football experiences for decades; from the isometric angles of our very first 8-bit experiences and the triangular polygons that make up every pixel of our most modern games, as well the iconic player indicator symbol that appears above every athlete in every match. You can learn more about the brand identity and design language, here.

EA SPORTS has defined interactive football for 30 years and built a global football community of more than 150 million across multiple platforms – a community that EA SPORTS FC will now continue to grow alongside partners who share a common goal of a fan-first future of football. Built on a foundation of inclusivity and innovation, fans will experience unrivaled authenticity with access to more than 19,000 fully licensed players, 700 teams and 30 leagues, with the support of over 300 global football partners that will allow further expansion into areas including both women’s and grassroots football.

EA SPORTS – Unveils New Retro Kits In EA SPORTS FIFA 23

EA SPORTS has just released a new set of Retro Kits, purchasable with FC coins, so fans can further celebrate the rich history of their favourite clubs in FIFA 23.

From the 1969-1970 Manchester City kits, worn by the first club to ever win both a UEFA and domestic cup in the same season, to the 1975-1976 kit worn by Borussia Dortmund during their first promotion to the Bundesliga, these kits are iconic and allow fans to relive global football history. Kits are available in-game starting today, March 30.

Below, you can find a list of all the Retro Kits that will be added to FIFA 23:

  • 1906-1907 FC Porto
    •  This kit represents a special moment for FC Porto after being revived in 1906, playing the season in this timeless kit.
  • 1948-1949 Club Atlético Independiente
    • Club Atlético Independiente celebrated their Primera Division victory in their iconic 1948/49 kit making it live long in the memory for fans.
  • 1960-1961 Tottenham Hotspur
    • The 1960/61 Tottenham Hotspur Home kit was worn by the team that won a 1961 FA Cup and First Division double.
  • 1967-1968 Celtic FC
    • The classic 1967/68 Celtic kit was worn by the club during their legendary Quintuple run, winning the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup, the Glasgow Cup and the European Cup.
  • 1969-1970 Manchester City
    • Manchester City’s legendary 1969/70 kit was worn by the first club to win a UEFA and domestic cup in the same season.
  • 1974-1975 Atlético Madrid
    • Atlético Madrid were crowned Intercontinental Cup winners during the 1974/75 season wearing their famous red and white striped kit
  • 1975-1976 Borussia Dortmund
    • This iconic kit was worn for a historic season when the club finally earned promotion to the Bundesliga.
  • 1981-1982 Chelsea FC
    • The pin striped kit was synonymous with many famous players including club legends Colin Lee, Peter Osgood, and Ray Wilkins
  • 1984-1985 Liverpool FC
    • This memorable kit was worn by the 1984/85 Liverpool squad who went on to win the English Division 1 title and the UEFA Cup.
  • 1992-1993 Leeds United
    • This kit was worn when the team celebrated the club’s First Division title win.
  • 1995-1996 Rangers FC
    • An incredible moment for Rangers fans and this famous kit as they went on to win their eighth consecutive Scottish league title.
  • 1996-1997 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
    • PSG won both the Trophee des Champions and the UEFA Cup wearing the 1996/97 kit.
  • 2001-2002 Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon)
    • This kit was worn by the Lyon team during the historic 2001/02 season which began a string of seven consecutive league titles.
  • 2006-2007 Real Madrid
    • This kit was incredibly iconic at the time, and remains to live on as it has inspired present-day kits for the club.
  • 2017-2018 Juventus FC
    • The recent yet illustrious 2017/18 Juventus kit was worn by global stars during a season where Juventus won both the Serie A and Copa Italia.

To learn more about the latest news for FIFA 23, please visit https://www.ea.com/games/fifa/fifa-23.

Ireland Football Heroes Go Head to Head at Turners Cross Stadium For Virgin Media’s ‘A Game’ for Ireland

Virgin Media are hosting ‘A-Game’ for Ireland in Cork City FC’s Turner’s Cross Stadium on 29 November 2022, which will see Irish football legends David Meyler and Stephanie Roche take on Ireland’s top FIFA players and WYLDE esport athletes, Ciaran Walsh and Tyrone Ryan.

The game, which is a League of Ireland first, will be streamed live from 5pm on Virgin Media’s Twitch channel, with commentary and analysis from Virgin Media Sport pundit, Damien Delaney and esports caster and football commentator, Darren Gibson.

Virgin Media is the official sponsor of Usain Bolt’s esports organisation and Ireland’s premier esports team WYLDE;  this event is part of their ongoing ‘Gamers are Athletes’ campaign, showcasing e-sports players as elite athletes in need of the speed and reliability Virgin Media broadband provides to bring their A-game.

The popularity of esports has rapidly expanded and the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for that growth with 52% of adults in Ireland who game saying they play online, according to research commissioned by Virgin Media and carried out by Coyne Research. Research also shows that 72% of people would choose to play a football game online over participating in a physical game.

Ahead of the game, Virgin Media Ireland Marketing Manager, Clare Quinlan said: “Our research shows us that 1 in 5 young people in Ireland are watching FIFA tournaments. In future, online tournaments could be as popular as the World Cup, so we want to make sure that just like other athletes, e-sports players have access to the best equipment so they can play and compete at the highest level. Virgin Media’s 1Gb speeds and 99.9% reliable broadband helps the WYLDE team and gamers across the country to bring their A-game.”

Stephanie Roche added: “Ireland may not have made it to Qatar, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have Irish international players we should be celebrating. Ciaran and Tyrone are athletes, just the same as me and David, and now thanks to Virgin Media people across Ireland will see that and get behind them.”

Back in his home turf of Turner’s Cross, and former professional midfielder, David Meyler said: “Having started my career playing for Cork City, it is great to be back now to take on the WYLDE e-sports team, another great Cork based team giving players the support and resources they need to develop and to compete internationally. I am an avid online gamer myself, so I understand the level of skill and dedication gaming at his level takes and am looking forward to taking them on.”

Speaking on behalf of WYLDE, Chief Executive Steve Daly said: “We all know how good David and Stephanie are on the pitch, but this is a great opportunity to showcase just how talented Ciaran and Tyrone are too. We’re really excited to see what happens when you bring together four Irish internationals for a head to head.”

Can you lead Lionel Messi to a maiden FIFA World Cup Victory on FIFA 23?

The final installment of the EA Sports-made FIFA franchise is less than a month away, and anticipation for the world’s number one football simulation couldn’t be any higher. All of our favourite game modes will be there from the get-go, with the likes of Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs, and Career Mode all returning to our screens on September 27th. But there is one reason why the upcoming release is extra special, and that’s because, for the first time since the days of FIFA 98, the FIFA World Cup game mode will be available upon the game’s release. Oddschecker, which compares odds and provides free offers on the World Cup, has made Brazil the favourites for the showdown in the desert, but it’s the Seleção’s archrivals Argentina that we can’t wait to lead to glory. 

Back in 2014, Lionel Messi came the closest he ever has to lifting the biggest prize in the sport. The Albicelestes defeated the Netherlands and Belgium en route to the Rio de Janeiro showpiece, before Mario Gotze broke South American hearts in the Maracanã, bagging a 116th-minute winner and sealing a fourth FIFA World Cup trophy for Germany. 

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 Four years ago in Russia, the Argentinians were fancied once again. However, they barely managed to scrape through the group stages. They gave eventual winners France all they could handle in the second round, eventually losing out 4-3 in what was the game of the tournament, but a last-16 exit was less than impressive. 

So, what about Qatar 2022? 

Lionel Messi – the greatest player of his generation and perhaps of all time – is now 35 years of age, and this winter’s World Cup will perhaps be his final appearance on the grandest stage. It would be a crying shame if the little genius bowed out without a solitary crown to his name. This is where you come in. 

It’s your job to get the best out of the great man and his Argentina teammates in Qatar. The likes of Angel di Maria, Paulo Dybala, and Lautaro Martinez should provide ample support to the Paris Saint-Germain superstar, allowing him enough creative outlets to shine. 

Should you accept the challenge, you will be leading out perhaps the most in-form team to pull on that famous blue and white shirt in some time. Last summer, it was di Maria’s goal that downed Brazil, on enemy territory, to secure Copa America glory, Messi’s first international trophy. The team followed that up by decimating European Champions Italy at Wembley in June to win the first Finalissima in 29 years. Can you go one better in Qatar and ensure that Messi brings the curtain down on a stellar international career in style? 

 

Nokia teases new rugged smartphone. #Nokia #HMDGlobal

Something new is coming and it is coming from Nokia dubbed the first life proof mobile phone, The time has come for one of the most powerful kicks in football to collide with the strength of a brand-new Nokia device, and there’s only room for one winner.

A footballing legend will join freestyle champion, Lisa Zimouche, to put a new life-proof phone through a series of high impact challenges. The owner of one of the most powerful kicks in football is set to go head-to -head with a resilient new device expected to be announced globally on 27th July 

 

 

Stephen Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer for HMD, the home of Nokia phones said: “Our latest phone is tougher than the status quo, it’s built for everything life can throw at it, literally. And it is about to take on its toughest match yet.  

We create Nokia phones with technology that lasts for longer, we want our customers to be able to love, trust and keep their phones. In the coming days we will truly demonstrate our latest devices capabilities with the hand of the talented freestyle champion, Lisa Zimouche and a footballing sensation.”  

A Gaming Guide: 3 Games All Football Fans Will Be Sure To Love

Are you a lover of football? Do you also have a passion for gaming? If so, you should combine these two all-important elements of your life by playing the games listed below. No matter what it is about the beautiful game that specifically interests you, there will undoubtedly be a video game out there that actively piques your footballing interest.

Here are three games all football fans will be sure to love:

FIFA

As an Irish football fan, you might not be afforded the opportunity to see your favourite teams playing week in, week out. However, this does not mean that you can’t immerse yourself in the very latest footballing action. When you play FIFA, you can experience the thrills and spills of match day from the comfort of your own home. 

 

If you want to maximise your FIFA-playing potential, be sure to put the following advice into practice:

 

  1. Don’t commit to challenges or dive into tackles — jockey for position for as long as you can
  2. Refrain from sprinting, as this will make your players tired and compromise your team as the 90th minute draws closer
  3. Take full advantage of the radar, as this will help you to pinpoint which players are being marked and which are being afforded a degree of space
  4. Activate Agile Dribbling and keep the ball tight
  5. Vary the length and type of passes that you perform
  6. Get to grips with set pieces in the practice drill mode
  7. Inject balance into your strikes by turning on timed finishing
  8. Make counter attacking a cornerstone of your FIFA game play style

 

Sports betting

Sports betting might not be a game per se, but it is still a fun pastime for anybody that loves to watch football in their free time. Should you have a little flutter on the outcome of the matches and games that you watch, you will instantly feel more enthralled by the action that you witness. Whether you opt for Euro 2021 betting or whether you choose to put money down on the GAA football league, this is a great way to inject some added excitement into match day.

Football Manager

For those of you that have a keen interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of football, Football Manager is definitely the game for you. Widely regarding as being one of the most addictive games of all time, this game franchise will allow you to take on the challenge of being a virtual football coach. In this role, you will be tasked with training players, buying new players, and picking your team’s formation, all in the hope that you can lead your club to unrivalled success going forward.

For advice on how to optimise your performance on Football Manager, be check out the advice and guidance provided by Games Radar.

Whenever there isn’t a big football match to watch on TV, why don’t you fill your free time with the games listed above?