‘FIFA 23’ Players Can Select Ted Lasso As Manager & AFC Richmond As Team

When FIFA 23 launches on September 30, or today if you have early access, fans will have a chance to use Apple TV’s Ted Lasso as a playable manager.

As well as the ability to use Ted Lasso, those with the free expansion will be able to play as Lasso’s team AFC Richmond. The team will be available in the career mode alongside their manager, as well as Kick-Off and online matchups.

Jason Sudeikis’s character Ted Lasso hit Apple TV in 2020 and quickly became one of the biggest shows on the streaming service.

> ORDER FIFA 23 NOW!

The show has now two Emmy wins for outstanding comedy, and EA’s David Jackson, VP of Brand for FIFA, has praised it for “bringing the passion of football and the power of belief to life for millions of fans across the globe.”

This represents a shift in the franchise since the introduction of Ted Lasso will mark the first-time fictional characters have been put into the game. EA may be looking for a way to encourage new players to sit down with the new FIFA and using a beloved character may be just the way to do it.

Sudeikis, the titular character himself, said in a statement that he is looking forward to “our fans having the opportunity to play with, play as, and even play against their favorite AFC Richmond characters.”

Lasso’s appearance may not be purely for fan service but a sendoff to the FIFA franchise. The EA sports game will go on, though not under the FIFA brand.

EA Sports FC will be the new name of the franchise post FIFA 23.