June 25 – EA Sports is hitting the mark with its FC Futures programme, doubling its global reach in year two of the project. What started as a £8 million (US $10 million) commitment to grassroots football back in April 2023 has now impacted over 340,000 people -bringing the overall tally to more than 500,000 participants across communities worldwide.
Originally focused on refurbishing pitches and rolling out training drills, the initiative has broadened both scope and ambition. In 2024 alone, eight more community pitches were upgraded – from flood-hit Valencia to under-resourced areas of Paraguay – bringing the total to 19 across 14 countries.
EA Sports utilised its partnership with UEFA to introduce eleven new online drills, expanding the FC Futures Academy to 17 free-to-use coaching resources. Now integrated into 54 national associations, over 500 coaches have been trained in the past year through this programme.
To front these campaigns, EA Sports has recruited household names. Ian Wright and Emma Hayes led the charge in Year One, lending authenticity to grassroots outreach – more recently joined by French legend Zinedine Zidane, who kicked off sessions at his Z5 training centre alongside David Beckham.
The project also targets social uplift, going beyond football. In Namibia, a year-long UNICEF partnership is using the power of sport to support 46,000 underprivileged youth – especially girls – through coaching and life-skills training.
By merging digital and real-world football, EA Sports brings innovation to grassroots. Its FC Futures Academy drills, inspired by in-game mechanics in its FC 25 title, represent a world-first in coach education, blurring lines between virtual training and physical development.
With its third year on the horizon, including new pitches, training content, and ambassador initiatives, FC Futures is fast becoming one of football’s most significant and thoughtfully funded community programmes.
“In just two years, FC Futures has demonstrated the powerful impact football can have beyond our EA Sports FC game, making a positive difference to hundreds of thousands of people,” said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP, Publishing, EA Sports.
“We’re creating lifelong sports fans not only through our game, but by actively supporting and growing grassroots football around the world.
“By bringing together our digital game with real-world coaching expertise, we’re democratising access to football training and reimagining coach education in a truly unique way, which is both impactful and incredibly relatable for the next generation.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1750995013labto1750995013ofdlr1750995013owedi1750995013sni@g1750995013niwe.1750995013yrrah1750995013