The World Cup is just around the corner, and for the first time this century, Wales are going to be there.
Wales national team has qualified for the tournament for the first time in 64 years, and it promises to be a huge national occasion. Robert Page’s side defeated Ukraine in a play-off game to secure passage and were drawn against England in the group stages, as was the case at Euro 2016. On that occasion, England won the battle, but Wales topped the group and progressed further; can they do the same again?
Across Wales, fans will be warming up for the tournament in any way they can. Usually, a big sporting event brings an official video game, and it’s likely gamers will be enjoying football video games as part of their preparation for the tournament. There are many football games on the market, and there have been plenty down the years. Football has been a part of video gaming ever since the first Football Manager game in 1982, and since then, titles have sprung up on mobiles as well as consoles. You don’t even take control of the action sometimes; there is an online slot from Gala Spins titled 11 Champions which takes football as its premise but adapts it for a different genre. Hopefully, Wales will be 11 Champions when the tournament finishes, making the title apt! Ronaldo Kick N’ Run is another mobile game that uses football in a different context that fans might enjoy.
Still, there’s nothing like picking up a controller and taking over your favourite teams, and that’s likely to be how gamers warm up for the tournament. If you want your football fix on home consoles but are unsure what to play, fear not. We’ve pulled together some football games, past and present, that will let you simulate the World Cup and maybe win it for Wales before Robert Page’s side attempt it in November.
FIFA 23 – Xbox Series/PS5
FIFA 23 is the final episode of the long-running series; next year EA Sports will release the game under a different name. It means this will be the last EA Sports-driven World Cup game, bringing to an end a run that has gone on since 1998. Eurogamer explains how the game will have two licensed World Cups; the men’s from 2022 and women’s in 2023. It will be the first game to feature Wales in the competition as standard, which will be special. The game is creaking a little under old code and needs a revamp, but it still promises to be a decent simulation.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa – Xbox 360/PS3/Wii
FIFA may have reigned supreme in video game land, but that wasn’t always the case. The 2010 game, which you can still pick up on eBay, brought EA Sports’ franchise back into gamer’s good books. Wales fans need not fear; you can build your own finals and have the likes of Jason Koumas, Rob Earnshaw and Joe Ledley feature in the tournament if you wish. With the ten official stadiums and a host of other World Cup touches, this title stands out as one of the best for a good World Cup warm-up session.
World Cup France 98 – Playstation/Nintendo 64
Wales were always going to struggle in 1998; the qualifying group that they failed to emerge from also had Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey. Turkey, who failed to qualify, were semifinalists four years later, underlining the size of the task facing Bobby Gould. Still, if you wish to warm up for the tournament, this is a good title, although you can’t play as Wales; the game only features qualified teams. However, there are some neat modes, such as playing games from previous World Cups in black and white, with Kenneth Wolstenholme on commentary. Wales fans will revel in being able to ensure that the 1966 final was all over before full-time by taking control of Germany and denying England the win they’ve never shut up about!
