EA scores a licensing agreement to lock up FIFA brand until 2022

Electronic Arts has closed another licensing deal with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The partners have announced an extension of their existing licensing agreement until the end of 2022. That means EA Sports’ soccer video games will continue to have the exclusive rights to the FIFA brand and the FIFA World Cup name.

FIFA games have generated billions of dollars in revenue for EA and the soccer body over the years.

“EA Sports released the first FIFA-branded soccer game in 1993, and 20 years later our partnership with FIFA continues to be very strong,” said Andrew Wilson, the executive vice president and head of EA Sports. “Our franchise has become the benchmark for quality and innovation in the sports videogame genre, and we look forward to many more years of connecting with consumers around the world with our games carrying the prestigious FIFA name.”

Gamers play about 65 million FIFA video game matches every week.

“Our relationship with EA Sports is of high importance to FIFA,” said Jérôme Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general. “The FIFA videogames are a key experiential component in our work to communicate the FIFA brand and its values all over the world. This is highlighted by the 2.5 million football fans that have competed in this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup, which is just one example of the power of our partnership with EA.”

Frank Gibeau, the executive vice president at EA, said in a conference call with analysts Tuesday that EA had reached licensing agreements with the PGA Tour, the NHL, and the NHL Players Association. EA also has long-term agreements already in place with the NFL, NFLPA, NBA, CLC, and the UFC.