FIFA World Cup coming soon

By Ellie Gibson Published 1 March, 2006

To PC and all consoles.

Electronic Arts has announced that this April will see the arrival of 2006 FIFA World Cup on PC, consoles and handhelds - and has released some screenshots, too.

The game will feature nearly 100 of the world's favourite footballers, all specially animated to capture their playing styles. There are 127 national teams to choose from, and you'll play matches in the 12 official stadiums where the tournament is being held as well as stadiums from each qualifying region.

Modes will include Global Challenge, which recreates classic moments from World Cups past, plus a multiplayer mode for up to eight players. Expect lots of unlockable content, too, such as legendary players and exclusive sportswear.

"The FIFA World Cup will be the single most watched sporting event by a worldwide television audience, bringing together football fans from around the world,” said producer Joe Nickolls.

"Our game, 2006 FIFA World Cup, celebrates this passion by capturing all of the national rivalries in-game, enabling fans to play their heroes and be a part of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany."

2006 FIFA World Cup is in development at EA Canada, and will be released on PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Nintendo DS, GBA and mobile phones in April.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (17) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Furbs #1 6 years ago

    So given FIFA 07 that'll be 3 FIFAs on the 360 in 10 months? \o/
    Think I'll give this one a miss due to having RTWC, but I'm REALLY impressed with where they have taken the franchise with it. Much more of a sim than an arcade kickabout. FIFA 07 is a definite buy for me this year.
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/06 @ 17:49

  • myiagros #2 6 years ago

    Fifa 98 RTWC was the best of the series so far, maybe that is why they are trying to replicate that.

    The difference is though that with Fifa 98 you got both the standard club game and RTWC in one game. Now they are trying to double their money by selling the separately.

    On the upside at least this will feature more content than some of their previous tournament aditions, i'm looking at you World Cup 98 and 2002!

  • redd #3 6 years ago

    i think WC98 was marginally better than RTWC98. Anyway, since then all fifa games began sucking so much i just dont care about them nowadays.

  • CrunchinJelly #4 6 years ago

    Did anyone ever play WC2002?

    It wasn't even like a FIFA game.

    It was like some big arcade-fest, as you could score goals from all over the pitch, and it just generally was way too fun to be a FIFA game.

    Edit: Just seen the screenshots and it looks WORSE than FIFA 06 on the 360. God knows how they managed it.
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/06 @ 13:43

  • Ryuken #5 6 years ago

    For me Fifa '99 definitely was the last brilliant Fifa game. Version '98 and World Cup '98 were pretty cool too back then since '99 was a refinement of those two.
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/06 @ 13:47

  • Tweakmonkey #6 6 years ago

    Lap it up sheep.

  • wolfen #7 6 years ago

    I'm not too keen on having all qualifying teams - would rather have all lineups from 1930 plus the teams that were knocked out in the final playoffs as extras. Adding a bucketload of teams that weren't there instead of focusing on the qualified teams (giving all players individual faces and all) just detracts from the experience that a world cup game should offer (and WC98 did as well as it could 8 years ago).

  • Darren #8 6 years ago

    Those screenshots look very good. Are they from the PC or Xbox 360 version?

  • gallow #9 6 years ago

    Just what we need more FIFA games.

    A kit/roster to update would be a nice gift from Konami for PES 5.

  • AHiFi #10 6 years ago

    My favourite was FIFA '97 Gold Edition on the Mega Drive.

  • LPXO #11 6 years ago

    I play pro evo but loved the arcade style of WC02. Bring back the flaming footballs and 50 yard goals!
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/06 @ 15:04

  • MrChuckles #12 6 years ago

    Jeez look at their knees...

    Are they made of wood?

    Next gen, bah...

  • Feanor #13 6 years ago

    "Just what we need more FIFA games.

    A kit/roster to update would be a nice gift from Konami for PES 5."

    A World Cup kit/roster update for PES 5 is being worked on, but not by Konami. If you have a MAX Drive or play PES 5 on the PC you'll be able to get it.

  • funk #14 6 years ago

    does this mean we get to enjoy sven 'skeletor' erikson on the pc as well as xbox 360?

    /baskes in next gen glory

    hope my graphics card can accurately capture the gruesomness

  • Talha #15 6 years ago

    "and will be released on PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Nintendo DS, GBA and mobile phones in April. "

    When will my calculator have one? And my refrigerator?

    I still fondly remember World Cup 98. That was my first footy game on my uncle's shiny new Pentium 166 - and boy did it blow us away. Awesome title (Tubthumping by Chambawamba anyone?), and tremendous atmosphere. That used to be our yardstick for photorealism in that day (not knowing better). Oh, those were the days!!

  • Cider-X #16 6 years ago

    WC98 on PC is the best Fifa ever. It was fun and the graphics were awesome if you had a 3DFX card :) Those were the days! It's closer to the real thing than fifa 06 with it's horrible basketball like gameplay.

    PES 4 LIFE!

  • vane101 #17 6 years ago

    No clubs teams I take it.