EA Sports FC 26 Soundtrack: Artists on Landing the 'Crazy Exposure' of a Hit Videogame Sync

For decades, the soundtrack to the world's biggest football videogame has been a launchpad for artists, a cultural tastemaker, and the source of countless "FIFA anthems." With the release of EA Sports FC 26, a new class of musicians is discovering the immense power of a videogame sync. We spoke with Mumzy Stranger, VLURE, and Yazmin Lacey about their inclusion on the coveted playlist and why this placement is a game-changer.

The 'We Made It' Moment

For many artists, landing a spot on the EA Sports FC soundtrack is a career milestone that feels almost surreal.

“I thought they were pulling my leg,” recalls Mumzy Stranger, the British-Bangladeshi R&B artist. He was in disbelief when his label, Desi Trill, informed him that his track "KI KORI" (featuring Muza) had been selected. The placement was not only a huge personal win but also a historic one. “The fact that it was the first Bangladeshi record [to ever appear on the game] made it that little more saucier.”

The feeling was mutual for Glasgow rave-rockers VLURE, whose track "Something Real" made the final cut of 103 songs. “Everyone in the band grew up playing it, so it was top of the list,” explains bassist Niall Goldie. For him, the connection is deeply personal, stretching back to his childhood. “The first one I bought was FIFA 2004, and ‘Red Morning Light’ by Kings of Leon came on... as a seven-year-old boy, that was the first time I'd ever heard Kings of Leon—that’s always stuck with me.”

More Than a Game: A Global Tastemaker

The legacy of the FIFA (now EA Sports FC) soundtrack is built on its power to introduce new music to a massive global audience. It has famously breathed new life into tracks like John Newman’s "Love Me Again" and provided a crucial international platform for artists like Biig Piig and Willow Kayne.

London-based soul artist Yazmin Lacey is experiencing this for the second year in a row. After her collaboration with Ezra Collective, "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing," appeared on last year's edition, her solo track "Ain’t I Good For You" was selected for EA Sports FC 26.

“I’m buzzing,” she says. “When I think about ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing,’ it's giving tekkers, winning and victory. ‘Ain’t I Good For You’ is giving flavour and flair... You want to be that player, right?”

An Evolving Soundscape for a Global Game

The concept of a "FIFA song" has evolved significantly. While once dominated by anthemic indie rock, today's soundtrack is a diverse, genre-spanning reflection of global football culture. On the EA Sports FC 26 playlist, artists like Pulp and Ed Sheeran share sonic space with the electronic beats of PinkPantheress, the soul of Yazmin Lacey, and the Desi-inflected rhythms of Mumzy Stranger.

“Five or even 10 years ago, you would associate [the soundtrack] with big, anthemic tunes that have these catchy choruses,” notes Goldie. “Obviously, they're branching out a wee bit now and moving with the times.”

Mumzy Stranger agrees, highlighting the incredible diversity of submissions the EA music team must review. “There’s thousands of songs that come out every day from all around the world, from different languages and cultures.” His theory for why "KI KORI" made it? The irresistible beat and a clever sample of a referee's whistle from collaborator DJ Lyan. “Football is a moving sport,” he says. “You've got no choice when you hear that song. Your body starts moving!”

The Unrivaled Power of Videogame Sync

While sync placements in film and TV are highly sought after, the artists agree that a video game offers a unique and powerful form of exposure.

“The exposure is crazy, because of the replay-ability of [EA Sports FC],” suggests Goldie. “Somebody's probably not going to watch a TV show or movie as commonly as they would play a video game.”

For Yazmin Lacey, it’s about breaking down genre barriers and reaching listeners who might otherwise never find her music. “On social media, you can get really tied up in the presentation of the music. But that doesn't really apply in the game,” she explains. “If you said to someone, ‘Do you want to listen to this soul-pop-jazz artist?’ they might be like, ‘Not really’. But in a different medium [like video games]? It can really expand my audience.”

Creating Core Memories

Ultimately, being part of the EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack is about becoming embedded in the positive memories of millions of players worldwide—whether they're scoring a last-minute winner with their favorite team or just navigating the game's menus.

“People associate those songs with fun and good memories, and I really like that as an idea,” concludes Goldie. “That's what the FIFA, and now EA Sports FC soundtracks have always been about. If people are listening to the song and associating that with having fun, then I'm all for it.”

EA Sports FC 26 is available now.