❘ Released: 2022-09-23T20:55:50
❘ updated: 2022-09-23T21:24:01
EA SPORTS has opened the door to more crossovers in FIFA 23 and beyond with the addition of Marvel Hero Cards to Ultimate Team as well as Ted Lasso face scans.
Ted Lasso has been running since August 2020 and follows the journey of the fictional team Richmond FC who began their first season in the Premier League.
After two dramatic and exciting campaigns, the show returns for Season 3 in early 2023. However, football fans around the world won’t have to wait long to see the unconventional manager take the reins of the dugout once more as he joins FIFA23.
This isn’t the only crossover EA has confirmed either, as Marvel has its name on the Heroes cards in Ultimate Team.
And it seems this is just the start of a trend for the series.
FIFA 23 will feature Marvel branding on the Heroes promo in Ultimate Team.
Ted Lasso arrives in FIFA 23
In an exclusive interview with Dexerto, EA Gameplay Design Director Kantcho Doskov spoke about seeing Lasso – and his gorgeous mustache – in the game they helped create.
“I was a fan of the show and was really excited to see this video. I played myself in the game with Richmond and Ted Lasso. All the characters are there, the trainer is there. And I mean, even as a developer, I’m pretty impressed, like, wow, we did it, it’s even more than I expected.”
When FIFA 22’s “Create A Club” debuted in career mode, it was widely speculated that Richmond would be added to the mix. The manager and players will be available when the game goes into Early Access on September 27th.
Expect Fortnite-style crossovers in FIFA 23 and beyond
Looking ahead, developers have a massive rebrand on the horizon in 2023 as the series rebrands to EA SPORTS FC. This followed a public back-and-forth with Electronic Arts and FIFA, with the latter attempting to break away from their exclusive naming rights deals in order to secure more crossovers in gaming.
Epic Games already seems to have Securighted Content for the FIFA World Cup – according to Fortnite leaksa game known for multiple collaborations with endemic brands – and it seems like EA is open to more crossovers in their game evolving.
“I would hope so (more crossovers),” Doskov continued. “This show in particular, Ted Lasso, even my parents who aren’t really football fans watch it and enjoy it. And it kind of brings the audience into the sport. It just brings more people around the world to football and FIFA. And that’s why I think it’s a success.
“So if there are other things like that or shows or other media that make that connection and it feels right, I would hope that we can do that in the future.”
Many would have predicted that the name change to EA SPORTS FC would be used as an opportunity to open up the series to collaborations with other big brands.
There is a clear desire, not just from developers, but from fans around the world, for this to happen. With Marvel and Apple TV+ in store, who knows what the future holds for this series.
Lois Nauri 
Alucader Verisme 
Baron Mayuri 