February 19 – EA Sports FC and Bundesliga Common Ground have launched a global initiative to invest in grassroots football, beginning with the redevelopment of a community pitch in Rio de Janeiro.
The project, part of EA Sports FC Futures, will expand to Lagos, Jakarta, and Berlin in the coming months, providing young players with improved facilities and structured training programmes.
The official launch took place on February 15 in Rio’s Vidigal neighbourhood, with Bundesliga legends Zé Roberto, Grafite, Diego, and Lucio in attendance. Local children were invited to celebrate the upgraded pitch, which will now host an eight-week training camp for boys and girls from the area.
This collaboration focuses on revitalising community football infrastructure and offering structured coaching and life skills workshops.
EA Sports has also developed a training playbook in partnership with the Bundesliga, incorporating drills inspired by its hit game EA Sports FC 25. The playbook will be available to grassroots coaches in an effort to leave a lasting impact beyond the initial camps.
Bundesliga Common Ground has been instrumental in restoring football pitches in underserved areas, providing communities with safe and sustainable spaces to play. EA Sports FC Futures, meanwhile, represents EA Sports’ long-term commitment to grassroots football, aiming to expand access to the game through investment and innovation.
With additional pitch openings planned for Nigeria, Indonesia, and Germany, the initiative is set to bring lasting benefits to community football worldwide.
These will add to what has been a busy year for EA Sports’ FC Futures project, which hosted a UEFA Festival of Football event at the heart of the Euro 2024 Fan Zone in Berlin. In its debut year, FC Futures opened up grassroots football to more than 170,000 people, now viewing to accelerate that expansion with plenty more pitches on the horizon.
Bundesliga International Chief Marketing Officer Peer Naubert said: “The development of football worldwide has been a core part of the Bundesliga’s DNA for many years. We are passionate about giving back, and providing opportunities to young, enthusiastic footballers of all ages and backgrounds is just one of the ways we can do that.
“Now working with EA on our established network of Bundesliga Common Ground pitches globally, which have already seen thousands of players enjoy more football, this is the next step for us to reach more young people and deliver a safe space for them to enjoy sport.”
James Salmon, Senior Director of Franchise Activation, EA Sports FC said: “As proud long-term partners of Bundesliga, we are thrilled to be working on this project together to give back to community-level football.
“We believe FC Futures can provide access and unique tools to inspire the next generation of grassroots players, so it’s fantastic to see our online FC Futures Academy drills being integrated into the 8-week clinics. Football brings so much joy, but there are limitless benefits connected to the development of transferable life skills – teamwork, discipline and respect – as well as the positive impact on mental and physical health.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740245388labto1740245388ofdlr1740245388owedi1740245388sni@g1740245388niwe.1740245388yrrah1740245388