Liga Forte União (LFU) and Liga do Futebol Brasileiro (Libra), which together hold broadcast rights for most of the country's major clubs, joined forces to secure the teams' participation in EA Sports FC and eFootball. According to Sports Insider, the leagues are already in talks with Electronic Arts and Konami to make an agreement possible.
Negotiations with Konami are being conducted only by LFU, while both groups are working together in the case of EA. This alliance matters because Electronic Arts has already had problems in Brazil: over the past decade, the company faced several lawsuits from players and ultimately removed Brazilian clubs and athletes from its game in 2016.
The goal of the negotiation is to overcome an old issue that for a long time left virtual soccer fans unable to play with Brazilian clubs in the games. Today, the eFootball franchise comes closest to offering that experience, holding exclusivity with 20 Série A teams and Athletico-PR, currently in Série B.
Agreement promises benefits for both sides
The main incentive for seeking an agreement is the visibility Brazilian clubs could gain by being included in EA Sports FC and eFootball. Although Brazil produces standout players for international teams, many fans abroad still know little about Brazilian clubs precisely because of the current situation.
With this change, LFU and Libra, as well as the teams they represent, could profit in the future from broadcast rights and other commercial contracts. Although they generally operate separately, the two organizations have moved closer on business-related issues.
In an interview with Estadão, LFU president Marcelo Paz said Brazilian clubs are open to simplifying the licensing process. Previously, including teams and players was more complicated because there was no single organization responsible for negotiating all football rights in the country.
Now, with a more organized structure and the leagues united, the path is clearer for game studios, clubs gain visibility and new revenue, and fans can finally have a more complete and realistic experience. Despite recent efforts, there is still no specific date for putting everything into practice.
