The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has announced a multi-year renewal of its licensing partnership with EA Sports, ensuring the continued presence of Scotland’s top clubs in the EA Sports FC (EAFC) video game franchise.
Scottish Premiership in EAFC 26
The agreement will see the Scottish Premiership and its 12 teams featured in EAFC 26, which launches globally on September 26, across both console and mobile formats. Notably, Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic will once again have their home stadiums digitally recreated, providing fans with an authentic gameplay experience.
EA Sports revealed that Scottish clubs proved highly popular in EAFC 25, with players around the world using them in 16 million matches.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster welcomed the deal:
“This new deal helps bring our league to new generations of supporters right across the world, and it’s positive to hear how popular our teams have been with players across the globe.”
Why This Matters
The partnership extends the SPFL’s visibility far beyond domestic borders, placing its clubs in front of millions of global players at a time when gaming has become one of sport’s most powerful growth engines. With EAFC replacing the long-running FIFA series in 2023, these agreements have become essential for leagues and clubs looking to remain part of the digital football ecosystem.
EA Sports Expands Football Footprint
The renewal with the SPFL follows a string of high-profile partnerships for EA Sports. Recent deals include:
- Chelsea, including their women’s team, marking EA’s first major dual-gender club partnership.
- FC Bayern Munich, who switched from rival developer Konami to EA.
- FA governing body (England), expanding marketing and licensing integration.
Other notable renewals include Atlético Madrid, River Plate, Racing Club, Lyon, and competitions such as the Barclays Women’s Super League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, UEFA Women’s Euros, and Belgium’s Pro League.
Together, these moves reinforce EAFC’s positioning as the most comprehensive football simulation in the world.
The Bigger Picture for the SPFL
For Scottish football, being embedded in EAFC is more than a digital licensing deal — it’s a global branding exercise. With the Premiership facing competition from larger leagues for international audiences and commercial partners, visibility in the world’s biggest football video game provides cultural relevance, international reach, and long-term fan acquisition.
