In a deal reminiscent of football transfer deadline day, EA Sports has today confirmed that it has secured the rights to include 16 Brazilian domestic teams in its upcoming FIFA 16.
With Konami holding the exclusive rights to the Brazilian Serie A league itself and all 20 clubs involved for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, the selection of teams included in FIFA 16 will be available for selection via the ‘Rest of the World’ option.
The full list of Brazilian teams confirmed to be in FIFA 16 is as follows: Atlético-MG, Atlético-PR, Avaí, Coritiba, Chapecoense, Cruzeiro, Figueirense, Fluminense, Grêmio, Internacional, Joinville, Ponte Preta, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo, and Vasco da Gama.
Serie A sides Flamengo, Corinthians, Sport and Goiás, meanwhile, are conspicuous by their absence.
Due to changes in recent years to the ways in which domestic Brazilian clubs and players are licensed, the country was snubbed almost entirely in FIFA 15, with only its national side present in the game. While players’ union FIFPro, which EA Sports has an agreement with, is responsible for managing the likenesses of the vast majority of elite-level players worldwide, Brazil – despite being a full member of the organisation – handles its own commercial rights, leading to protracted negotiations between EA and the clubs and players involved.
Due to the nature of the deal, while the Brazilian teams included on the disc will have their authentic names, logos and kits, their players will remain unlicensed – although EA is hopeful of being able to work out a deal to include player visual and name likenesses as part of a future update.
