Today, we announced EA SPORTS FC FUTURES has doubled its year-on-year impact, opening up access to grassroots football to over 340,000* people in year two. Building on the 170,000** in year one, it means the programme has increased access to the world’s game to over 500,000 people around the world in just two years since its inception.

Since launching in 2023, the initiative has continued to deliver on its commitment to grow community-level football worldwide and support real-world play by refurbishing community pitches globally, delivering new free-to-access training practices inspired by EA SPORTS FC in-game drills, and working with partners to provide opportunities for all to play the beautiful game.

With a vision to make the sport more inclusive and accessible for players around the world, FC FUTURES empowers the next generation of football fans and coaches, providing training materials, as well as safe and inspiring spaces to play and thrive through real-world football experiences.

In its second year, FC FUTURES has:

• Launched 11 new online practices, in partnership with UEFA, taking the FC FUTURES Academy library to a total of 17 free-to-access drills, designed to support coaches and players in daily training sessions. By using in-game drills to power these coaching tools, the Academy provides a unique and innovative way for coaches and young people to learn core football skills, encouraging participation and driving fandom in the next generation. Through our UEFA partnership, the Academy has now been integrated into 54 National Football Associations, with 500+ coaches trained on using the practices in the past 12 months.     
  
• Refurbished a further eight community pitches worldwide - from the flood-impacted city of Valencia, Spain, to Bañado Sur, Paraguay - in collaboration with league, confederation, and charity partners, alongside FC FUTURES ambassadors – bringing the total to 19 pitches across 14 countries since 2023. These pitches have been used by thousands of young people worldwide and have provided safe and accessible spaces to further their love of the game.
• Deepened its global impact through multiple partnerships with organisations focused on driving positive youth development through sport. Year two saw continued collaboration with UNICEF, Merky FC, and Football Beyond Borders, as well as partnerships with some of the biggest names in football and entertainment to host numerous community training sessions and events, designed to inspire the next generation. From teaming up with LALIGA to open a new pitch in J Balvin’s hometown of Medellín to working with German football legend Lukas Podolski on a community refurbishment in Cologne, FC FUTURES is proving how far-reaching the power of play can be.

“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 democratizing access to football training and reimagining coach education in a truly unique way, which is both impactful and incredibly relatable for the next generation.”

As we look ahead to year three - and an exciting year for football globally - FC FUTURES will continue to engage and inspire future generations of footballers by launching new pitches in communities worldwide, expanding the free training library, collaborating with new partners, strengthening existing partnerships, and building on our ambition to grow football for all.

Beyond this, FC FUTURES will unlock new ways the game can further revolutionise coach education, through the creation of additional learning experiences, harnessing the power of interactive play and the merging of physical and digital football to inspire more young people into the sport.

Find out more about FC FUTURES and access the FC FUTURES Academy, the free digital library of training practices, here.

*Based on the average annual number of users of the community pitches, residents who live within a 10km radius of all publicly accessible pitches (Rio de Janeiro, Medellín, São Paulo), and participants in FC FUTURES or FC FUTURES-partnered programs and pitch inauguration events.

**Based on the average annual number of visitors to the Seoul pitch; residents who live near (10km) new public pitches (Singapore, Spain, and Mexico); users of the Rocky & Wrighty Arena and Sam Kerr pitches; participants in FC FUTURES or FC FUTURES-partnered programs; and number of footballs provided through partner initiatives.

Check out other amazing EA stories on ea.com/news.