Women have had it very difficult with popularity and exposure in sports, especially soccer. Soccer video games have been very popular in continents like Europe for so many years. Even with all its popularity out there, women were still not represented in it until 2016 when FIFA 16 introduced the top women soccer players from a limited selection of the top national teams. Some fans had been waiting for this for a while and this was a start to something. The next year we will see more national teams added but it could not utilize one’s favorite women’s national teams across the board in a more expansive suite of modes.
2018 is when women soccer represented on video games will come alive. FIFA 18 included Women club teams as well from English Women’s Super League, Germany’s Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga and more. This addition of leagues from across the globe helped to boost the visibility of the women’s game, as well as allow for greater choices across FIFA 18’s set of game modes. Other things that were included were women’s Career Mode, female creation suite and Ultimate Team that features women. FIFA 19 followed these great footsteps from FIFA 18 by continuing to add more club teams and improve on all aspects of the game for women teams. FIFA 20 coming out in the fall season will only get better.
Of course, women teams are not allowed to play against men teams in the games as men teams will have overpowering ratings individually, but a lot of fans are certainly happy about the growing representation of women in soccer video games. Since its debut representation in 2016, they have had continued support and exponential success. Is there anything else you’d like to see them represent in the soccer video games for women? Share your ideas.
Alexander Allen Addo-Atiemo 