Ted Lasso is in FIFA 23. Just like Sam Obisanya, Dani Rojas and the rest of AFC Richmond, the fictional English football club, in Apple TV Plus’ Emmy-winning feel-good comedy-drama.
Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced the crossover for EA Sports’ worldwide bestseller on Wednesday, and it’s a lot more robust than before Rumors had suggested. Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is available as a manager in career mode for AFC Richmond or any other team. Players can also create their own pro and join AFC Richmond in career and play in any league they want.
Even Richmond’s fictional home ground, Nelson Road (which in real life is Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park), will feature FIFA 23
“It’s so freaking cool to be in FIFA,” said Brett Goldstein, who portrays the famously snotty Kent, in a statement censored by EA, not us. “I’m not sure if this will help dispel the CGI rumors, but fuck it, it’s totally worth it.”
Goldstein refers to a weird internet conspiracy theory/meme which states that Roy Kent is entirely a CGI creation and his actor does not exist. (For the record, Goldstein has insisted he’s “a completely real, normal human” who “does normal, human, basic things like rendering and buffering.”)
Anyway, “I’m looking forward to beating my nephew in a game with me as Roy Kent and him as Jamie Tartt,” Goldstein said. “He will be angry.” Although Kent retired from Richmond and became a (un-Flemish) analyst for Sky Sports Teddy Lasso
Lasso himself, Jason Sudeikis, said he’s a fan of EA Sports’ football franchise and called the recording “a truly dream come true for me and the rest of the boys.”
“Our cast and crew work incredibly hard on this show and we’re flattered that it resonates with so many people,” said Sudeikis. “We look forward to our fans having the opportunity to play as, play as, and even play against their favorite AFC Richmond characters.”
EA Sports added that additional AFC Richmond content will be available in Football Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs modes – including, yes, manager items for both Lasso and
Players and fans have previously modded the club or built tributes to Sudeikis’ character in career modes, but this will be the first time AFC Richmond has featured in the main roster of clubs in the series.
At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12 Teddy Lasso and its cast won Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Sudeikis), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Goldstein), and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, from a total of 20 nominations. The third season of Teddy Lasso does not have a premiere date yet.
FIFA 23 launches September 27, 2022 on Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, with some features unavailable in current-gen versions on other platforms.