FC FUTURES: Opening the beautiful game to the world

Football is truly the world’s game. Kids around the planet, from South London to Sydney to Namibia to New Jersey, all know that feeling you get when you meet up with friends and kick the ball around. Yet joining a local team or pursuing a dream of something more is not always that simple. It is tied to critical factors for each child, including opportunity, support and access. And not everyone has that.

This is what the EA SPORTS FC FC FUTURES initiative is aiming to change.

FC FUTURES is a values-driven program which represents a profound commitment from us to grassroots football, driving innovation in products, communities, and strategic partnerships held within the heart of the game.

Today, we are proud to celebrate the impact FC FUTURES has had since its launch just over a year ago. From rejuvenating football pitches to delivering crucial equipment for play, FC FUTURES has created new opportunities for countless young enthusiasts to embrace the beautiful game when they otherwise might not have been given the chance.

Because FC FUTURES isn't just about changing the game—it's about changing thousands of lives through football, inspiring youth and uniting fans around the globe.

“FC FUTURES has opened the beautiful game to more than 170,000 people across the globe, and we’re going to keep on rolling.”

Investing in our communities

Since launching in 2023, FC FUTURES has meaningfully invested in community-level football on a global scale with the purpose of growing the game for all. 

During its successful first year, FC FUTURES opened access to football to over 170,000* people across six continents. This has been accomplished by:

• Supporting the creation and refurbishment of 11 pitches globally, from South London to Sydney.

• Providing over 12,000 footballs to grassroots clubs, coaches, and children, as well as further items including boots, cones, bibs and more.

• Partnering with multiple organizations, brands and charities including UEFA Grassroots, the Premier League, LA LIGA and UNICEF to deliver programs that make a long-lasting impact.  

• Developing and publishing a library of seven free-to-access practices, in partnership with UEFA, as resources for young players and coaches to utilize in training. These FC FUTURES ACADEMY practices are currently being integrated into 54 National Football Associations and their Coach Education Programmes.

“It’s been a busy and immensely productive first year for FC FUTURES,” said James Salmon, Senior Marketing Director, EA SPORTS FC. “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and we thank our partners, our ambassadors and all the remarkable community leaders who have helped bring FC FUTURES to life. There’s still so much more to do to support community-level football on a global scale. Still, this collaborative effort will continue to ensure our investment is felt by local communities around the world who will truly benefit from the power of football.”

In addition, we launched a new comprehensive program, Namibia Futures, in partnership with UNICEF. This multi-year partnership will use the power of football to create long-lasting social change in Namibia and beyond, reaching more than 46,000 children and adolescents.

“There are 300 million adolescent girls around the world today. With the right resources, networks, and opportunities, they may be the greatest group of changemakers the world has ever seen.”

Empowering children to reach their full potential–on and off the pitch

Half of all children in Namibia face poverty, which limits social mobility opportunities, increases the risk of exploitation and abuse and means that many girls are unable to complete their education. UNICEF already works with partners in the country to provide accessible interventions for girls to gain new life skills and occupational training to transform their prospects, often through the platform of sports. Through Namibia Futures, UNICEF will now reach a further 46,000 young people in Namibia, supporting them through football and games-based training to achieve their potential both on and off the pitch.

“We’re thrilled to expand the partnership between our two organizations, following over five years of successful collaboration between EA SPORTS and Soccer Aid for UNICEF,” said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP of Publishing, EA SPORTS. “Through this program, we hope to meaningfully impact many young lives in Namibia, using the power of football and our EA SPORTS FC platform.” 

“There are 300 million adolescent girls around the world today. With the right resources, networks, and opportunities, they may be the greatest group of changemakers the world has ever seen,” said Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK). “Our new partnership with EA SPORTS FC, Namibia Futures, will support over 46,000 Namibian adolescents to build better futures both on and off the football pitch. I would like to thank EA SPORTS FC for standing by children and helping UNICEF to not only improve adolescents' physical well-being, but also to develop key life skills that help them transform their lives with our partnership.”  

FC FUTURES Hero Award

To mark one year of FC FUTURES, the inaugural FC FUTURES Hero Award was presented to FC FUTURES ambassador, Ian Wright to recognize his outstanding work in inspiring the world to love football, alongside a charitable donation to a grassroots football cause.

“It’s an honor to be the recipient of the first FC FUTURES Hero Award and I take great pride in seeing the strides the initiative has made around the world in the past year.” said FC FUTURES ambassador, Ian Wright. “To know that the first-ever pitch that came from this initiative is in my old community, at my old primary school, is a really special legacy for me and Rocky. The Rocky & Wrighty Arena at Turnham Academy wouldn't have happened without FC FUTURES, and it’s amazing to see the positive impact our pitch is having on young people in the community.”

Changing the future

FC FUTURES is poised to continue to positively impact people, players and communities worldwide.

We remain committed to enhancing the overall football experience through the launch of new pitches and the publication of additional training practices. These efforts are crucial in equipping players with the skills and resources they need to excel on and off the field. Additionally, we are dedicated to improving access to high-quality playing equipment, ensuring that every aspiring footballer has the tools necessary to pursue their passion with confidence and enthusiasm. 

In tandem with these initiatives, FC FUTURES will expand its network of partnerships, forging alliances with organizations that share our vision for the growth and development of football worldwide. These collaborations will enable us to leverage expertise and resources, further enhancing our ability to nurture talent and promote the game at all levels. 

EA is committed to driving positive change within the football community, empowering individuals to embrace the sport's transformative power and fostering a culture of inclusivity and excellence.

Want to help transform the world? Join EA to help us change the game.

*Based on the average annual number of visitors to the Seoul pitch; residents near the Singapore, Spain, and Mexico pitches; 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.