The anticipation for FIFA 23 has amplified because of the announcement that a new team will join the roster — Ted Lasso‘s AFC Richmond. That’s right; before FIFA 23’s release on September 30, EA Sports FIFA shared that the fictional team would join the game as playable characters.
The exciting news comes a day after the official Ted Lasso Twitter account shared a photo of Jason Sudeikis being digitally scanned. The tweet reads, “Look out, Mario! You’re not the only pixelated man with a mustache who never knows where the tube is taking him….” So now, Greyhounds worldwide know where AFC Richmond is going.
The beloved team has taken over the small screens, and now they’re taking over the digital scene on the pixelized pitch. FIFA 23 will feature Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and notable AFC Richmond players, including Jamie Tartt, Dani Rojas, Sam Obisanya, Roy Kent, and Isaac McAdoo. The players “will all be authentically integrated into” the game.
However, the fun doesn’t stop there because FIFA 23 also includes Nelson Road — AFC Richmond’s home ground. As fans play the game, they can select Ted Lasso as a playable manager in Career Mode, or they can manage the club themselves by swapping them into the Premier League or any other playable Career Mode league.
ESPN shared Jason Sudeikis‘s statement about AFC Richmond taking on FIFA 23. Sudeikis said, “I am truly fortunate, and deeply grateful, to have had many special moments in my career thus far, and I consider this experience among the best of them.”
“As long-time fans of EA SPORTS FIFA, having Ted Lasso and the whole AFC Richmond squad incorporated into the newest version of the game is truly a dream come true for myself and the rest of the fellas,” Sudeikis continued.
The announcement video includes coaches and players across the sport, including Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, whom Ted Lasso‘s Jamie Tartt resembles from his memorable headbands to his short socks. Phil Dunster, who plays Richmond’s striker, shared his excitement to be a part of a game he has loved for so long.
“[Playing FIFA is] genuinely the closest thing I’ve had to addiction. Normally, I would play career mode with AFC Wimbledon because that’s my team. Then you make your way up to the top and it’s great to see Messi playing at Plough Lane…,” Dunster told ESPN.
“Expectations were very different from what the show turned out to be. It was mostly about the fact that I could pretend to be a professional footballer. I could tell everyone that I was being paid to play football now,” Dunster added.
Ted Lasso‘s cast and crew have taken to social media to express their joy about joining FIFA 23, and it’s the kind of greatness fans have come to expect from this team. Kola Bokinni shared a photo of AFC Richmond’s captain Isaac “The Mac” McAdoo’s pixelated form and added, “Believe it.” It’s exciting to imagine “Believe” signs in the stands.
Billy Harris, who plays Richmond’s lovable Left Wing Colin Hughes, shared a photo of himself during the pixelation process with a tweet reading, “Mum I made it.” Brett Goldstein, the Emmy Award-winning actor who brings Roy fucking Kent to life, shared FIFA 23’s trailer and tweeted, “We’re in the fxxxing game. Richmond til we die.”
Even the official accounts call back to some of the show’s best inside jokes. Ted Lasso‘s account tweeted, “I’ve got goosebumps. Seein’ my guys in CGI is so weird. Except Roy for some reason.” That last bit references a long-running rumor that Goldstein is not an actual human but an entirely CGI figure on the show. Well, now it’s official.
The AFC Richmond account took a slightly different approach, writing, “Jamie’s eyebrow. Ted’s khakis. Roy’s red cards. The realism in #FIFA23 is unmatched.” The post references multiple staples in characterizing the players that fans know from Ted Lasso while complimenting EA Sports FIFA’s ability to make this game accurate to the Apple TV+ series.
By next Friday, fellow Greyhounds will be able to play as AFC Richmond across Career Mode, Kick-off, Online Friendlies, and Online Seasons, including The Greyhounds’ Nelson Road home stadium.
“With FIFA 23 Ultimate Team™, you’ll be able to show your love for AFC Richmond with a series of customization items, including authentic kits and TIFOs, as well as” finding and selecting Ted Lasso or Coach Beard as your club’s manager. “Additionally, all AFC Richmond content in FUT will be available through objectives and challenges.”
With the club on FIFA 23, Ted Lasso fans have even more reason to believe AFC Richmond can win the whole fucking thing.
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FIFA 23 launches worldwide on September 30 and is available for pre-order.
Ted Lasso Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now on Apple TV+.
