Chapter Fourteen: EA Sports Releases FIFA (with Michael LoRé)

By 1993, EA Sports was a well established video game manufacturer with titles like Madden Football, which was released in 1989 and PGA Tour Golf, which was released in 1990 already commercial successes. These franchises began the model of licensing the rights to likenesses, league and team names and beyond to help market the games. But they had been resistant to releasing a soccer title largely because the company didn't think it would sell. But a persistent group of UK employees made their case and, ultimately, convinced executives it was worth a shot. The release of EA Sports FIFA, now EA Sports FC, in 1993 began the ascension of a video game title that would become a runaway success. Along the way, it helped grow fandom in America. That marriage between video games and building a soccer culture may have initially been unexpected but, over time, the marriage was clear. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity...