If merger problem isn’t solved, EA Sports might not include ISL in FIFA 18

The well-documented merger talks between the Indian Super League and the I-League has been the story of Indian football of late, and that could have far-reaching implications, even beyond football pitches.

FIFA 18 is set to hit the stands later this year, and excitement hasn’t been in short supply for fanatics of the console game series. There have been noises about an Indian league making its first FIFA appearance this year, but everything hinges on how the structural changes in Indian football pan out.

According to sources close to EA Sports, the introduction of ISL in FIFA 18 depends on when the ongoing merger problem is solved.

“We are looking to add one or two more leagues in FIFA 18, and the Indian league has been on top of our list. However, we are in touch with FIFA regarding the developments in Indian football and the uncertainty surrounding the Indian league at the moment could force us to change plans and look for alternatives,” the source told Sportskeeda.

“Since we are now nearing the final stages of the development of FIFA 18, it would be difficult to replace the Indian league, but one solution to that is adding one or two Indian teams to the Rest of World teams,” the source added.

The latest turn of events in Indian football has seen the powerbrokers of Indian football announce the expansion of ISL. The new-look ISL will have more teams than its current eight and will be played for a longer duration than its current three-month stretch.

That has put EA Sports’ plans to include the ISL in jeopardy as without knowing its structure, it is futile to add a league whose designs for the 2017–18 season is uncertain as of now.

Indian FIFA fans have been eagerly waiting to play with their favourite ISL club, but it seems they have to wait a year more to play ISL. However, one bit of good news is that we might see ISL 2016’s finalists — Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters — among the Rest of World teams.

The merger problem of Indian football has impacted the stakeholders at EA Sports shows how global the game of football is, and how Indian football’s indecision is about to trigger changes in the league line-ups for FIFA 18.