The Allianz Arena is likely to feature in FC 26 – is Signal Iduna Park saying goodbye? EA SPORTS no longer lists Borussia Dortmund as a “Champion Partner.” The Yellow Wall could disappear from the game.
The sight of the south stand at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, formerly Westfalenstadion, never fails to impress. EA SPORTS has never managed to capture the atmosphere of the Yellow Wall in its soccer simulation, but the BVB arena has always been visually authentic. That could soon change with EA SPORTS FC 26.
The publisher is no longer listed as a “Champion Partner” on Borussia’s website – in fact, it is no longer listed among the partners at all. The recently closer cooperation between BVB and EA SPORTS appears to have come to an end. What does this mean for Dortmund’s virtual future?
The reverse Bayern path?
BVB fans don’t need to worry too much about their team’s representation in FC 26 – a deal between EA SPORTS and the DFL ensures that. Players, jerseys, and crests will remain unchanged. Signal Iduna Park is also likely to continue to be recreated – provided Borussia does not enter into another exclusive partnership.
BVB could go the opposite way to FC Bayern: the Munich club has apparently secured EA SPORTS as its new partner. This means that the Allianz Arena will presumably return to FC 26 for the first time since FIFA 19. Konami, on the other hand, lost the license for Bayern but could strengthen its position in eFootball with its rival.
Fans fear a “total break”
Dortmund did not respond to eSport’s request for comment. The decision on which game Signal Iduna Park will be featured in from autumn onwards is likely to be announced later this summer. At this stage, it cannot be ruled out that the stadium will not be available in FC 26.
This prospect is already causing some unrest in the BVB community on social media. “Without Signal Iduna Park, FC 26 wouldn’t be the same. I hope EA SPORTS and BVB can come to an agreement soon,” writes X user Amid Nasibov. For ‘bnj09’, it would even be “a complete disaster if I have to play in the Europa League with Dortmund in the stadium.”
