FIFA 23 to introduce Women’s Champions League for the first time
FIFA 23 has been a huge step forward for women’s football in video games.
EA have announced that’s it doubling down on its commitment to women’s football in FIFA 23, bringing the Women’s Champions League to the game in 2023.
FIFA 23 marked a huge step up in inclusivity for EA’s football franchise, offering more representation to the women’s half of the sport than ever before. This was clear from Chelsea star Sam Kerr’s appearance on the FIFA 23 cover, and the addition of playable women’s club teams.
Women’s football made its debut in FIFA 16, but was limited to just international teams in the years that followed. The devs clearly wanted to make up lost time in this year’s game, even adding female-specific animations using HyperMotion 2 technology.
Now, EA are going one step further by bringing the UEFA Women’s Champions League to FIFA 23 for the very first time.
Announced alongside the publisher‘s multi-partnership with the UWCL that sees it become the global broadcast partner of the competition, players will be able to experience the knockout stage of the Women’s Champions League in March 2023 in FIFA 23.
Players will be able to pick from one of the world’s best teams and lead them to glory, complete with authentic matchday packages and trophies, in what appears to be a separate mode available from the menus.
The only clubs confirmed so far are Juventus Women, Real Madrid Femenino, Chelsea Women, Manchester City Women, Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, and Paris Saint-Germain Feminine. More will likely be revealed as the real-life tournament plays out.
Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s Chief of Women’s Football welcomed the announcement, saying: “We are delighted to see the UEFA Women’s Champions League being integrated into EA SPORTS FIFA 23.
“It feels like a natural fit for the world’s best women’s club competition to be part of the world’s leading football simulation game. This is another major step in the women’s game and an ideal additional platform for the female athletes contributing to its success.”
The men’s Champions League was first added back in FIFA 19, and is now part of the calendar for top teams in FIFA 23 Career Mode.
Sadly, the option to play a Career Mode as the manager or player of a women’s team isn’t available in FIFA 23, so the Women’s Champions League will exist as its own separate mode.
Still, this is a welcome addition that will hopefully lead to greater representation when the series continues as EA SPORTS FC.
For more on FIFA 23, be sure to check out the best strikers in Ultimate Team, and how you can claim a free Twitch Prime Gaming Pack.
Image credits: EA SPORTS
