FIFA Facts You May Not Have Known About

FIFA is one of the most famous soccer simulations in the world. The latest editions have reigned unchallenged in the video game landscape, thanks mainly to the various innovations that have enraptured the most passionate gamers. So many curiosities and memories populate the long history of this series; are you sure you know them all?

It was born from nothing and has, over time, become the best-selling soccer simulation in the world, so much so that it has surpassed even a historical series like Pro Evolution Soccer. Of course, we are talking about FIFA, whose history has always gone hand in hand with its Konami-developed counterpart, with which, over the past 20 years, it has alternated between ups and downs. The latest editions have reigned unchallenged in the videogame landscape, thanks mainly to the various innovations that have enraptured the most passionate gamers.

The beginning of FIFA's history

Although the most famous episodes are those released for PlayStation, FIFA's history begins in 1993 on different consoles: FIFA International Soccer was released on Sega Mega Drive, Master System, Mega CD, Game Gear, SNES, DOS, Amiga, 3DO, Game Boy and, in 1995, PC. And it is on computers that the FIFA series dominates unchallenged, at least until 2003, when rival PES entered this market when Electronic Arts' series was at its weakest. Finally, with FIFA Soccer 96, the saga landed on PlayStation, but with Road to World Cup 98, FIFA exploded and became a must-have for every soccer fan. The winning element of the series? The isometric view, because the other games offered the classic bird's-eye view.

One of the features most appreciated by long-time players was an indoor mode's presence in early FIFA. Introduced in FIFA 97, the ability to play matches on indoor fields immediately enamored fans, so much so that when it was gone, many rebelled and demanded its reintroduction. Even today, with the advent of new versions, players are still creating petitions to include the indoor mode again.

Flat, tip, reverse; it didn't matter how, but in the old FIFAs, scoring from the midfield was a practice bordering on the ordinary. It was enough to take a good player and rely (not even too much) on fate. To this day, it is still possible but more difficult given the surge in the simulation component of the series. However, everyone will remember the taunting of those who managed to bag the ball from midfield, especially if the one conceded the goal was us.

FIFA's Music

Needless to get around it, one of the most famous elements of the FIFA series is the music selection. The pre-game menus, settings, team management screens, and FIFA's music accompanied us for endless hours. We listened to it creating the perfect team, from Song 2 by Blur (Road to Word Cup 98) to Stop the Rock by Apollo 440 (FIFA 2000), but also Bodyrock by Moby (FIFA 2001), The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim (FIFA 99) and the legendary Tubthumping by Chumbawamba (Road to World Cup 98).

The rise of eSports in FIFA's world

FIFA is now so popular that it is considered part of the eSports scene. Nowadays, large international tournaments are organized in which there are professional players.

More often than not, FIFA fans are the same fans of sports betting on eSports and otherwise.

The best high-quality sports betting sites have sensed the potential of eSports betting on soccer and are already offering numerous events to bet on.

However, on these platforms, you find not only soccer but also various game types, the best possible sporting odds, and exciting bonus offers.

Conclusion

Many numbers have characterized FIFA over the past 20 years. Starting with the more than 150 million copies sold worldwide, between games belonging to the main series (23) and spin-offs (39). Every 90 minutes, 469,000 rounds are played worldwide, which in turn feature 3,660,000 shots and 991,000 goals. The record number of goals scored against the computer in a single game is 189, an achievement by a 15-year-old Englishman. On the other hand, when it comes to (virtual) players, the goal record belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, with a total of 35.2 million balls bagged worldwide. It is actually more than 380. More than 2.5 million players participate each year in the FIFA Interactive World Cup, an event with a final prize of $20,000.