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Why Liga MX should get fully licensed by FIFA video games

By Eduardo Fernandez

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 15: Referee Fernando Guerrero use the VAR during the 10th round match between America and Cruz Azul as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Azteca Stadium on March 15, 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. The match is played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 15: Referee Fernando Guerrero use the VAR during the 10th round match between America and Cruz Azul as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Azteca Stadium on March 15, 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. The match is played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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The FIFA video game franchise is one of the most successful of its time. The video game which is produced by EA sports is consistently the best selling game for long stretches of the year even though it contains many flaws which fans have been complaining about for years. Why is this so?

Well, FIFA is a simulation of the world’s game. It has as much interest in Brazil as it does in the Netherlands. It gives you the opportunity to play with your favorite teams and lead them to glory. The FIFA video game franchise is international. In the past weeks there have been many quotes by Mexican legends indicating that Liga MX is not as well known internationally as other leagues like the MLS. That the way the league is being managed is troublesome and that it is only a matter of time before Liga MX becomes second place to the MLS.

There are many factors that weigh into this dilemma. There are obviously many solutions to this problem that Liga MX faces. I am here to highlight a simple solution. One that is fairly easy to execute and that if completed will have ripple effects that can sustain Liga MX for the years to come.

The MLS has full licensing with the FIFA video game franchise. This includes the scanning of most players in the league as well as a television broadcast package and 5 scanned stadiums. It is only a matter of time before MLS gets the Premier League or La Liga license since the United States is such a big market. Now let us look at Liga MX. When looking at a full license for Liga MX it is important to make the argument that licensing the league will not only help FIFA video game sales in Mexico but also in the United States since many of the top viewed matches in the United States are Liga MX matches.

I think this is an important argument to be made by Liga MX when trying to obtain a full license. But now let us look at the broader question.

What does full licensing do for Liga MX?

Full licensing entails many things. First you would want a broadcast package to be included. A generic Liga MX package can be made like the one the MLS uses. Secondly you scan the stadiums in Liga MX. Obviously, you don’t expect to get a full license like the Premier League or La Liga so you can start off by scanning the historic stadiums.

As of right now only the Estadio Azteca is in the game but even then it’s an old version that does not contain the renovations of the past years. The stadiums you scan into the game are the Estadio Akron (Chivas), Estadio Olimpico Universitario (Pumas), Estadio BBVA (Rayados), Nemesio Diez (Toluca), and Estadio Corona (Santos). Adding these stadiums also has an inherent benefit for FIFA since they have to include three of those stadiums for the World Cup 2026 DLC. This now allows them to carry the stadiums in the game and not have to scan them specifically for this update.

The second step is scanning player heads into the game. This is the most important aspect of the full licensing deal with FIFA since it adds authenticity in the game as well as grows the brand of the club and player internationally. As of right now only Pumas and America have full face scans in FIFA 20 and this is due to exclusive partnership deals with FIFA. If Liga MX does not seek full licensing with FIFA I still highly encourage all teams to seek exclusive partnership deals with FIFA. A benefit of this can be seen when playing manager mode on FIFA.

Many players around the globe search leagues looking for a diamond in the rough. Searching through Liga MX and seeing full head scans makes that player familiar with the league and its clubs and players. Now this is just an example of one game mode that is played by hundreds of millions of players around the world. It is a quick and easy way to build the brand of the league as a collective and as an individual team.

Seeking full license in FIFA should be a main priority for Liga MX in its battle to remain relevant against the growth of the MLS. It is a win win situation for Liga MX and FIFA. It allows FIFA to have another league fully licensed in which this case its the biggest league in North America. For Liga MX it adds authenticity and most importantly grows its brand in North America as well as internationally. You’ll have players in Asia raving about the potential Jose Juan Macias has as a top league striker.

Covering Liga MX you notice that very rarely there are win win situations. This is one of those rare cases and if Liga MX wants to remain relevant they must take it.

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