May 5 – EA Sports has struck a multi-year licensing agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), paving the way for the return of the Brazil national team to its flagship football simulation series.
The deal brings one of the sport’s most recognisable brands back into EA Sports FC titles, with the Seleção set to feature in the current FC 26 and EA Sports FC Mobile titles whilst also featuring in games to come – though the length of the deal is undisclosed.
Brazil’s absence in recent cycles had been hard to ignore, largely due to an exclusive arrangement between the CBF and Konami’s rival title eFootball.
The reintroduction of Brazil comes deliberately ahead of the World Cup this summer, restoring a key piece of authenticity to a franchise that has leaned heavily on licensing breadth as a competitive advantage at a time when all eyes will be on international football. Should Brazil perform well in North America this summer, not having the squad in EA’s roster would have been a glaring omission.
“Brazil is one of the most passionate and influential football communities in the world,” said Jeff Sharma, VP Brand at EA SPORTS FC. “Partnering with the CBF and bringing the Seleção back in game is truly a monumental moment for our players and for FC. This will allow us to deepen our commitment to players in Brazil and across the world, while continuing to deliver authentic experiences that reflect the unique culture, passion, and talent of Brazilian football.”
CBF President Samir Xaud framed the agreement as part of a broader push to modernise fan engagement. “This partnership with EA SPORTS represents an important step in expanding how fans connect with Brazilian football,” he said. “Together, we will create new ways to celebrate our National Team, our players, and our legacy with millions of fans around the world.”
Beyond the headline return of the national team, the agreement covers licensing rights and joint marketing initiatives, with both parties set to collaborate on content, storytelling and fan-focused activations.
Brazil’s absence from recent EA titles had been partially masked by the inclusion of player likenesses, but without official kits, badges or federation branding. That gap is now set to close – at least at international level.
Whilst the deal marks progress, there are still limitations to what EA can bring into the game. The developer does not currently hold a licence for the Brazilian domestic league, where image rights are negotiated on an individual basis rather than collectively, which has complicated full integration of Brazilian players currently operating outside of Europe. As a result, while the Seleção will return in official form, the player pool may not be fully representative, particularly for those based in Brazil.
Even so, the agreement restores a cornerstone of global football culture to the world’s most widely played football game – and removes a conspicuous omission that had lingered in the background of the series for several years.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]