No, FIFA 23 Does Not Include Chile
Let‘s get this cleared up first – FIFA 23 does not feature the Chile national team or any Chilean club sides such as Colo Colo or Universidad Católica. Domestic league licensing issues and their 2022 World Cup qualification failure see Chile left out.
As a hardcore fan who has eagerly anticipated this latest installment, I‘m gutted by Chile‘s absence. Their attacking style and top talent like Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal would be a welcome addition. Alas for now, we‘ll have to get our Chile fix from other modes.
Why Chile Failed to Qualify
Chile faced an uphill battle coming into CONMEBOL qualification after disappointing recent form saw them drop out of the top 50 in FIFA‘s World Rankings. Their outdated core of veteran stars left little room to blood new talent.
In a fiercely competitive group, Chile could only muster 7th place despite four wins. Key losses to rivals Peru and Colombia proved the difference in missing automatic qualification and the inter-confederation playoffs.
Final CONMEBOL Standings:
| Position | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 45 |
| 2 | Argentina | 39 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 28 |
| 4 | Ecuador | 26 |
| 5 | Peru | 24 |
| 6 | Colombia | 23 |
| 7 | Chile | 19 |
Scouting Chile‘s Domestic League
The Campeonato Nacional de Primera División is Chile‘s premier football competition. It boasts over 80 years of history showcasing some of the country‘s top talent.
In recent seasons, Universidad Católica has dominated with a historic four-peat of titles from 2018-2021. However 2022 saw Colo Colo wrest back the crown for a record extending 32nd league championship.
While not at the level of elite South American leagues in Brazil and Argentina, Chile‘s Primera División has produced world-class players like Alexis Sánchez (now of Marseille), Arturo Vidal (Flamengo) and Gary Medel (Bologna).
Notable Chilean Stars Across Europe‘s Top Leagues:
| Player | Position | Club | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Aránguiz | Midfielder | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga |
| Erick Pulgar | Midfielder | Fiorentina | Serie A |
| Francisco Sierralta | Defender | Watford | Premier League |
| Tomás Alarcón | Midfielder | Cádiz | La Liga |
Assessing the Chile National Team‘s Outlook
In the latest September FIFA World Rankings, Chile lurks down in 28th spot and 7th among South American sides. This represents a significant fall from their early 2010s peak when they reached #5 under Marcelo Bielsa.
While the backbone of Chile‘s "Golden Generation" has moved on, a brighter future may emerge. Bright young stars like Ben Brereton and Luciano Arriagada hint at an attacking rebirth. They‘ll benefit from the guidance of seasoned defensive duo Gary Medel and Mauricio Isla.
I‘m tipping Chile as dark horses to punch above their weight in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Their best XI could worry any top side on their day. Consistency and set piece vulnerabilities remain the big question marks.
Breaking Down FIFA 23‘s Key Improvements
As an annual customer since 1998‘s revolutionary FIFA: Road to World Cup 98, I‘ve eagerly awaited each new entry to see what incremental innovations EA Sports has embedded.
FIFA 23 represents another polish rather than overhaul. Yet important tweaks provide a noticeably more realistic and true-to-life on-pitch experience. I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed the improved attacking flow, set-piece variety and physics.
However FIFA still trails competition like eFootball and Goals in certain areas. Licensing limitations around domestic leagues and competitions persists as an unfortunate consequence. Plus introducing microtransactions into career mode leaves a sour taste.
In summary, FIFA 23 is a fitting send-off before EA Sports‘ licensing divorce from FIFA itself. For Chile fans the wait continues as their national team spectates once more.
Yet the passion to bring home La Roja‘s first World Cup title burns brighter than ever!
