Why is Colombia Not in FIFA 23? An In-Depth Investigation

As a proud Colombian football fanatic and FIFA gamer, I was extremely disappointed to learn that Colombia would not be featured in FIFA 23. Their shocking omission sparked my quest to get to the bottom of why this vibrant South American football giant is missing from the latest edition of EA Sports‘ iconic video game series.

Licensing Issues Between EA and CONMEBOL

The primary reason Colombia is not in FIFA 23 comes down to licensing issues between EA Sports and CONMEBOL, the governing body of football in South America.

EA Sports only has full licenses to include a very limited number of South American international teams and leagues each year. For FIFA 23, only Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are playable under their direct agreements with CONMEBOL.

This means EA does not have permissions to utilize the badges, kits, player likenesses or other intellectual property of nations like Colombia in the game without separate deals in place.

Obstacles Securing Full CONMEBOL Rights

Based on my industry expertise analyzing these gaming licenses, there are a few major obstacles EA faces trying to lock down full access to every CONMEBOL member country:

• Expensive Fees: CONMEBOL may charge exorbitant rates to license smaller member nations like Colombia, making it cost-prohibitive
• Exclusivity With Rivals: Some CONMEBOL members may have exclusive deals with FIFA‘s rival football games like eFootball or UFL that restrict EA access
• Bureaucracy & Red Tape: Navigating the legal rights of player unions, kit suppliers, sponsors for each nation introduces layers of complexity during negotiations

This troublesome trademark terrain has led to EA only picking the necessary major licences like Argentina and Brazil year-after-year, while leaving out remarkable footballing nations like Colombia.

Colombia‘s Vibrant Football Heritage Missing From FIFA

As an obsessive football fanatic and proud Colombian, I was crushed to see Colombia omitted from FIFA 23 as they have such an incredible footballing lineage.

Some highlights of what FIFA gamers are missing out on include:

• 6 World Cup Appearances: Colombia has qualified for 6 prestigious World Cup tournaments (1962, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014, 2018)
• Quarter-Final Runs: Los Cafeteros thrillingly made the quarter-finals in 2014 and 2018, their best ever finishes
• South American Giants: Historically one of the continental powers in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying and the Copa America
• Household Names: FIFA would benefit greatly from superstars like James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, Falcao Garcia, Luis Diaz and more
• Iconic Matches: Epic wins against Argentina, France, and Poland plus James‘ wonder goal in 2014 are unmatched moments that can‘t be recreated or reminisced about

Simply put, South American football and the World Cup feels incomplete without Colombia. Their absence leaves a massive hole in FIFA‘s authenticity as their pedigree speaks for itself:

Hoping for a Triumphant Return

While nothing can make up for their unfortunate exclusion this year as a die-hard Colombian football supporter, I genuinely hope EA Sports can negotiate all necessary licenses for Colombia‘s triumphant return in FIFA 24 or beyond.

Their innate skill, rich history and recent run of form has proven Colombia warrants inclusion alongside fellow South American juggernauts like Brazil and Argentina in the beautiful game.

For any fellow gamers or football fans wanting to see Colombia back where they belong, please join me in respectfully requesting their return by tweeting @EASportsFIFA #BringBackColombia!

¡Vamos Colombia!