At long last, FIFA 23 has decided to include one of the great motivators of game. While the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup – the most watched sporting event in the world – might have been the more obvious candidate to market the latest instalment of the virtual soccer franchise, it looks like the popularity of Ted Lasso was just too good to refuse.
Much like its titular coach, Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso continues to win us all over. At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, the show’s sophomore season managed to win Outstanding Comedy Series for a second consecutive year, becoming the eighth series in history to ever do so.
The likenesses of Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), and the biggest stars of the AFC Richmond squad including Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernández), Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh), Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), as well as Isaac McAdoo (Kola Bokinni) will be making their way into FIFA 23. The club’s home stadium, Nelson Road, is also said to have been faithfully recreated.
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“I am truly fortunate, and deeply grateful, to have had many special moments in my career thus far, and I consider this experience among the best of them,” said Jason Sudeikis via a statement.
“As long-time fans of EA Sports’ FIFA, having Ted Lasso and the whole AFC Richmond squad incorporated into the newest version of the game is truly a dream come true for myself and the rest of the fellas.”
“Our cast and crew work tremendously hard on this show, and we are flattered that it resonates with so many folks. We look forward to our fans having the opportunity to play with, play as, and even play against their favourite AFC Richmond characters.”
This isn’t just another cutesy Easter Egg that’s just for show, either. Like it or not, they’re actually involved in a substantial part of the game. AFC Richmond is fully playable across Career Mode, Kick-Off, Online Friendlies, and Online Seasons.
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You’ll even have the ability to select Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso as your playable manager in FIFA 23 Career Mode, or swap the entire AFC Richmond squad into any of the playable Career Mode leagues and have them face off against real-life clubs (including those in the Premier League).
You’ll also be able to select either Ted Lasso or Coach Beard as your club’s manager in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, which includes a bunch of authentic kits and TIFOs you can use to express your love of AFC Richmond. All of this will be made available through a set of objectives and challenges.
FIFA 23 launches worldwide on September 30th of 2022. Hit the link below to pre-order your copy of the game.
