Saudi Arabia’s national football team is now a fully licensed part of EA Sports FC 26, marking the first time the Green Falcons appear in the series with official kits, crest, and player likenesses. The addition stems from a new licensing and marketing agreement between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and EA Sports FC, positioning the team as a standard option within the game rather than a temporary or region-specific feature. For players across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the wider region, it brings long-requested representation into a title that continues to influence how global football culture is consumed, especially among younger audiences.
The national team’s arrival in EA Sports FC 26 means that players can now select Saudi Arabia from the main roster of licensed national sides and use the current squad in standard gameplay modes. The integration goes beyond basic branding: the in-game models include accurate uniforms, the official crest, and player likenesses designed to mirror real-world counterparts. This level of detail offers a more credible experience than the placeholder kits and custom squads that fans have relied on in previous editions. It also reflects the broader trend of football games expanding their licensing portfolios to reduce gaps that have long frustrated regional players.
SAFF views the partnership as part of a larger strategy to strengthen its presence in esports and digital entertainment. With Saudi Arabia investing heavily in competitive gaming and related industries, bringing the national team into a global football game aligns with efforts to engage younger fans who spend as much time interacting with football digitally as they do following real matches. SAFF officials describe the move as a way to extend national identity into a medium where many supporters form their earliest impressions of international football.
EA Sports, meanwhile, frames the agreement within its ongoing push for authenticity across its licensing catalogue. According to the company, adding the Green Falcons supports its aim to reflect contemporary international football more comprehensively. From EA’s perspective, expanding official team representation helps maintain the series’ relevance in markets where demand for accurate regional content has grown alongside local football development. While the company emphasizes authenticity, the inclusion can also be read as part of the broader commercial strategy underpinning modern sports games, where licensed content remains a major driver of player engagement.
For fans, the result is straightforward: Saudi Arabia is now a standard, fully licenced option in EA Sports FC 26, available to players worldwide. This update not only broadens the roster but also signals a shift in how regional football is represented in global gaming culture. As the MENA region gains visibility in both esports and professional football, in-game representation serves as an accessible entry point for new audiences and a familiar presence for existing supporters. Whether the move leads to further regional licensing or deeper collaborations remains to be seen, but the inclusion itself marks a meaningful expansion of the game’s international scope.
