EA Football Event to Support Young Talent in Cologne

As part of the EA Sports FC Futures initiative, Electronic Arts and UEFA organised a youth football event in Cologne with the support of Lukas Podolski. More than 50 boys and girls from the region took part.

Electronic Arts, in partnership with UEFA, held a grassroots football event in Cologne to promote young talent with the support of Lukas Podolski. After the initiative inspired more than 170,000 people to get involved in youth football in its first year (according to EA), more than 50 boys and girls from the region took part in further training sessions in collaboration with UEFA.

"The FC Futures event in Cologne was an incredible opportunity to support young talent and share the joy of football. It was amazing to see the children grow through the training sessions led by our dedicated coaches. Lukas Podolski's surprise appearance made the day perfect - a moment the children will never forget. This is what FC Futures is all about: inspiring the next generation and celebrating the love of football," said Jennifer Schofield, Social Impact Lead EA Sports FC.

The sessions, led by coaches from UEFA and the German Football Association (DFB), were part of the FC Futures Academy, a free online tutorial library currently available in six languages. The FC Futures Academy uses match content from EA Sports FC 25 to improve football skills. The academy has been integrated into UEFA's coaching education programme for 54 national football associations. The training sessions took place at the Strassenkicker Base in Cologne. The 5,000 square metre sports hall offers children and youth groups from the Cologne area the opportunity to attend free training sessions every weekday.

"The main goal is not to discover the next football star. It's more about supporting young people on their way and teaching them values such as team spirit, discipline and fair play. I know myself how important this support is at the beginning of a career," said Lukas Podolski. "With FC Futures, we are giving young talents the chance to develop not only their sporting skills but also their personal qualities.  It is a matter close to my heart to pass on this passion and belief in oneself and to support it. It's great to see how EA Sports FC is investing in the future and promoting the next generation, all over the world and now in Cologne at my Strassenkicker Base."

Olivier Doglia, UEFA's Head of Technical Education and Development, added: "At UEFA, we believe that football should be accessible to everyone, and our partnership with EA Sports FC Futures is a testament to this vision. Together we are creating opportunities for young players to play football, learn new skills and, most importantly, have fun. By integrating innovative tools and training resources, we are not only supporting grassroots football, but also inspiring the next generation to play and love the game."

Never miss anything from the German, Swiss and Austrian games industry again: subscribe for free to our Daily newsletter and get all news straight to your inbox.