Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced that US Men’s National Team Captain and Seattle Sounders FC star midfielder, Clint Dempsey, will appear on the North American cover of FIFA 15, sharing the honors with global football sensation Lionel Messi. The reveal was made at the start of today’s Sounders FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur friendly with a Tifo display unveiled across the Xbox Green Zone at CenturyLink Field. This will mark the first time that an American has appeared on the game’s cover since 2011.

EA Sports Announces Clint Dempsey as North American Cover Athlete for FIFA 15 (Photo: Business Wire)

EA Sports Announces Clint Dempsey as North American Cover Athlete for FIFA 15 (Photo: Business Wire)

Dempsey, who led the US Men’s National Team to a heroic performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, is considered one of the best American soccer players in history. He made and broke records during the tournament, netting the fifth fastest goal of all time with a strike in the first 29 seconds of the USA vs. Ghana opener, and became the first American to score goals in three consecutive World Cups. The 31-year-old forward spent seven seasons in the Barclays Premier League before returning to the United States to join the Seattle Sounders FC, cementing himself as one of the biggest stars in Major League Soccer.

“Clint Dempsey is a world class athlete that embodies the heart and soul of the sport,” said Stuart Lang, VP of North America Marketing, Electronic Arts. “He showed his lethal combination of grace and toughness at the World Cup, and plays with enormous heart and determination on the pitch. He is the perfect ambassador for FIFA 15, a game that’s all about bringing the emotion and intensity of the sport to life.”

“It’s an amazing opportunity in my career to be on the cover for FIFA 15, a game that has played a big role in growing the popularity of the sport in America,” said Dempsey. “To join the class of other elite athletes who have appeared on previous covers is very humbling and I am extremely grateful for this honor.”

FIFA 15 brings football to life in stunning detail so fans can experience the emotion of the sport like never before. Witness the intensity of crowds chanting and cheering on match day, and listen to commentators guide fans through the story of the game with Dynamic Match Presentation. For the first time ever, all 22 players on the pitch are connected with Emotional Intelligence allowing players to react to opponents and teammates within the context, and relative to the narrative of the match. Football is the greatest drama on earth and FIFA 15 puts fans center stage, allowing them to feel the emotion and intensity of the world’s greatest sport.

FIFA 15, developed at EA Canada, will release worldwide in September on PC, Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, and is available for pre-order** now at http://www.origin.com and other retailers. A version of FIFA 15 will also release on the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo 3DS™, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system this Fall. Not all game features are available on all gaming platforms.

For more information about EA SPORTS FIFA 15 visit www.easports.com/fifa or join the EA SPORTS community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtag #FIFA15. For information about FIFA 15 visit www.easports.com/fifa. The games have not yet been rated. Assets are available at http://info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com.

** Restrictions apply

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.

In fiscal year 2014, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, SSX, The Sims, Dragon Age, Plants vs. Zombies and Battlefield are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. and its subsidiaries. John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, UFC, PGA TOUR and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Wii and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox 360 is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.