Earlier this year it was announced that FIFA 16 would feature women’s soccer teams. It’s also looking like top female athletes won’t just be tucked in the corner of the game, but will be prominently featured in the game’s box art, in some territories at least.
I’m so honored to be featured on the cover of #FIFA16. Thank you @EASPORTSFIFA! https://t.co/vw73wtfncJ pic.twitter.com/5vp8RLUk1x
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 20, 2015
Every cover will feature Argentina’s Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players in the game. In various territories, like the U.S., it will also feature some top female players, like Alex Morgan above.
It’s a great step forward, and very deserving, considering the U.S. absolutely trounced Japan in the World Cup earlier this month.
Christine Sinclair will be featured alongside Messi for fans in Canada.
Such an honour. @EASPORTSFIFA #FIFA16 pic.twitter.com/5bM1hcvDvg
— Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) July 20, 2015
For Australia, EA allowed fans to vote for which female soccer star they would like to see on the cover of FIFA 16. Fans decided to go with Steph Catley over Katrina Gorry and Kyah Simon. EA has yet to announce who the final star will be on Australia’s cover, but said he will be revealed on Aug. 13 in Sydney.
As for other territories, female athletes will not be adorned alongside Messi on the cover. The U.K. and Republic of Ireland will have Jordan Henderson, Mexico will have Marco Fabian, France will display Antoine Griezmann, Latin America will get Juan Cuadrado, and Japan will feature Shinji Kagawa.
If you have yet to see the trailer featuring female athletes, check it out below.
H/T EA Sports | Photo via Ishan Manjrekar/Flickr (CC BY 2.0) | Remix by Fernando Alfonso III