EA Sports is rolling out a major update to its soccer franchise this May that lets players manage national teams in a sprawling international tournament, though the company lacks the official rights to the actual World Cup.
The World's Game update arrives May 28 and opens a 48-team international tournament starting June 4. The mode takes squads through three group stage matches, with the top two finishers in each group advancing alongside the eight best third-place teams. Knockout rounds then proceed through a round of 32 to the final.
EA Sports secured 53 fully licensed national teams for the mode, 41 of which are competing in this year's actual World Cup. The roster includes heavyweights like Brazil, England, France, Germany, and Spain, alongside smaller federations such as Cabo Verde and Uzbekistan. The company added three new stadiums to support international play: Gillette Stadium, BMO Field, and Central Maw, a newly designed venue meant to evoke the atmosphere of elite international football.
The company stopped short of securing every nation. Seven teams operate without full licensing: Egypt and Japan feature authentic player rosters but unlicensed kits, while Algeria, Curaçao, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan appear as generic squads. EA Sports attributed the gaps to licensing challenges and legal constraints, noting that U.S. sanctions can prevent partnerships with certain federations.
The licensing situation reflects a broader shift in the franchise. EA Sports ditched the FIFA brand two years ago when negotiations with the soccer body fell apart, rebranding as EA Sports FC starting with the 2023 entry. That decision meant surrendering the coveted World Cup license to 2K Sports, which produces the official World Cup game.
Beyond the tournament mode, Ultimate Team receives a dedicated hub for Festival of Football themed campaigns running through late July. Players who log in between June 5 and July 24 unlock a 93 OVR Festival of Football version of Pelé along with three evolution cards. EA Sports plans to add over 100 new international players to the Ultimate Team card pool during the event window, plus two fresh ICON cards: Rivellino and Mario Kempes, arriving June 19 with special Greats of the Game versions before their base versions enter standard packs on June 26.
Author Emily Chen: "Without the World Cup license, EA Sports had to get creative with the tournament framing, but a genuine 48-team international mode is still substantial content that captures the spirit of global soccer competition."
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