FIFA 19 finally qualifies for Champions League as EA grabs licence
Dutch commentator potentially spoils EA's E3 reveal of FIFA 19 by letting news of UEFA licences slip early
FIFA players will finally be able to jump into the world's best club football competition this year after Electronic Arts grabbed the licence from UEFA.
Confirmation of this long-expected fact came from Dutch TV -- specifically commentator Evert ten Napel, who let slip that both the Champions League and Europa League would be coming to FIFA 19 when talking about his voice work for the game.
In Evert said "for about six or seven days a year, I record updated lines [for the game] ... In 2019 as well, the game will get even better, because they've added the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. "
He went on to reveal the game would, as normal, come out in October before taking a swipe at FIFA fans: "It will go to the stores in October. And then all those weirdos will be standing in line again at midnight."
FIFA's erstwhile rival Pro Evolution Soccer, which confirmed its own 2019 edition last week, has had the licence since 2008 when it was still the top football game around.
It was around then that EA's gameplay finally caught up with Konami, however, having gained ground in the years previously by snapping up official licences.
The licence for UEFA's top club competition -- and their interminable Euro Vase -- effectively complete the set for FIFA which already has Europe's top leagues, the World Cup, European Championship and almost every other tournament gamers in the game's largest markets will care about.
PES is still kicking, though -- along with the game annoucement last week they confirmed they were adding the likenesses and skills of legends such as David Beckham, Ruud Gullit and Roberto Carlos to the game.
It was widely expected that EA would be showing off FIFA 19 at E3 next month -- so Evert may well have spoilt EA's plans for a big reveal in LA.
EA kick off E3 with the first of the big pre-show press conference at 7pm UK time on June 9. As well as FIFA 19 they're expected to show off Madden 19, as well as Battlefield V and the long-awaited Anthem.
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