Soundtracking the Beautiful Game: A Brief Look into how Football and Music Go Hand in Hand

One of my favourite things that used to happen whenever I was hanging out with my guy friends was me putting on a song, only for them to immediately look at each other and say, "Wait, this was on FIFA 11!"

The impact of video game soundtracks aren't anything new and plenty of people rediscover songs from their childhood by either seeking out the music they grew up with or by chance hearing it out in the wild and being transported straight back to their youth. For many people, these soundtracks have become nostalgia triggers and these days, songs that appear on the next FIFA games, or now EA Sports FC, play a big part in how we consume music amongst ourselves and how we allow it to bleed out into real life football.

Back then, FIFA soundtracking was different. Predominantly driven by indie bands in its early years, the soundtracks evolved into playlists that people genuinely looked forward to each year. They started as something you'd enjoy while gaming, before falling into a rabbit hole of searching for the artists behind the songs.

Early FIFA games leaned heavily into indie and alternative music, helping bands like Two Door Cinema Club ('I Can Talk' FIFA 11, 'Sleep Alone' FIFA 13, 'Are We Ready? (Wreck)' FIFA 17) or MGMT ('Kids' FIFA 09) reach huge new audiences. It became a gateway by introducing listeners to genres they might never have explored before. As both football and music became increasingly global, so did the soundtrack, expanding into hip-hop, Afrobeats, Latin, UK rap and electronic music, with artists such as Jai Paul, Skepta, Empire of the Sun, and Fireboy DML making appearances. The soundtrack evolved alongside youth culture while still retaining a distinctly British identity. Getting a FIFA placement has become one of the most prestigious sync opportunities in music and for musicians, getting on the soundtrack has become a milestone in itself. After all, so many artists grew up playing the games themselves. Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective summed it up perfectly when he said: "Most musicians, one of our dreams, one of our goals – it's not the Grammys, it's not the Oscars – it's to get a song on FIFA, man."

The recently unveiled EA Sports FC Ultimate Mix playlist, released following England's win over Mexico, which was a nice touch. Featuring some of the best British artists alongside iconic tracks pulled from FIFA soundtracks over the years, it's a celebration of just how much these playlists have become part of football culture.

EA Sports FC might actually be one of the most influential music discovery platforms of the last 20 years. Long before AI personalised playlists or algorithms dominated streaming set up by labels, FIFA was already introducing players to music that wasn't already being rinsed on the radio and instead would be a small band from York who've only played a few times in their local pub. In fact, curating the soundtrack was a gruelling process, with extensive research going into selecting songs that matched the feel, energy, and identity of the game. Whether EA realised quite how influential these soundtracks would become is another question, but their cultural impact is definitely undeniable.

With the World Cup reaching its near end, it's another reminder that football has always had a soundtrack and that music plays a massive part within it. Official tournament songs become woven into football history, while chants have been part of the game since the late 19th century, constantly evolving to reflect different clubs or players. In England especially, songs have taken on entirely new meanings through football. Eurodance track by Gala (UA) 'Freed From Desire' has become a celebratory track having been released in 1996 and then evolving into a chant in 2012.

For these last few England matches, some tracks don't need any changing to the lyrics for them to make an impact.

Moving back into the top 10 in the charts, 'Wonderwall' by Oasis has always had a connection to football amongst being one of the most well known British songs ever. Hearing the crowd singing "Because maybe, you're going to be the one that saves me" to the players is beginning to pull at the heartstrings because... maybe? right?

The Beatles track 'Hey Jude' from 1968 has resurfaced and feels like an unwritten tradition to sing to starboy Jude Bellingham considering his insane track record recently.

Football has a unique way of giving songs a life beyond the charts. The soundtrack may change with every generation, but the connection between music and the beautiful game is one that continues to bring fans together.