Is Playing FIFA Considered a Sport?

The boys were all going to play football over the weekend. They were making plans loudly, talking about teams, hyping each other up. I stood in the corner, sulking. There goes my weekend plans.

One of my friends tore away from the group and walked over to me.

“Come we’ll play FIFA”.

I let the words hang in the air for a bit. Unsure, I looked at my friend. He looked dead serious.

“But I don’t know how to play”.

“It’s okay, I’ll teach you.”

“But it’s not football. You guys want to play football.”

“It’s the same thing.” He shrugged.

I could feel the giddy onset of warmth flooding my veins.

Suddenly, I was a part of the plans again. I belonged.

Apart from that console that sits on the table collecting dust, what does FIFA or EAFC or whatever they are calling it now, bring to the table? Why would you spend a ton of money on buying a console, THE GAME ITSELF, hog the TV for hours when it doesn't even guarantee a win?

Well, if you don't have access to a playing field, or you don't have the time, or don't have friends around, or the weather is simply hot enough make lava sweat, what would you do? Isn't it just more convenient to sit inside an air conditioned room, on your own couch, and play online with your friends?

If your answer is yes, then you are right. Or, are you?

Convenience- It’s simply convenient to be on our screens. There's no need to contend with weather conditions, coordinate with others to play, or find a time that suits everyone.

Lack of exertion- You can simply play from the comfort of your home. There is food. There is air conditioning. Hell, you can even have music on in the background. You don’t have to exert yourself physically or even mentally (if you don't mind losing). All you need is a stable WiFi connection.

Accessibility- Times have changed, and it's no longer as simple as heading to a nearby empty field to play football with friends. If you're a student, you might have access to a school or college playground—if you're fortunate enough to have one. Otherwise, you'll likely need to book a place to play. This is where gaming consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox shine. If you can afford one, you also gain the convenience and accessibility they offer.

Safer- Sitting in front of a screen poses no physical risks, unlike football, which is physically demanding, strenuous, and sometimes even violent as a contact sport. If you're not feeling your best, dealing with an injury, or simply lacking the physical strength, playing FIFA can be an excellent alternative.

Inclusive- It might not be ideal for a girl to play football with ten boys (unless she's a pro) due to the higher risk of injury. Similarly, individuals with certain disabilities who are unable to participate in physical sports face similar challenges.

This is where console games truly shine. They eliminate barriers—regardless of gender, physical ability, or fitness level, everyone can play. Console gaming levels the playing field, making it accessible to all.

Football is the most followed and played sport in the world. Average viewing attendance at any FIFA WC eclipses even the most hyped Hollywood event. But irrespective of its stature, football, at least the physical version of it where people run around in the sun chasing one ball, is at stake.

You might find it difficult to fathom if you are surrounded by fanatics as I am, but the stats rarely lie. In the past few years….. Xbox and PS5, sales have skyrocketed. While the lack of time, difficult-to-find grounds and lack of people willing to sweat in the sun have contributed to the decline of the soccer empire, EA FC, or as we call it, FIFA has steadily grown in popularity.

Ps5, xBox, Vision Pro. As the tech gets more enhanced, more amazing, the more we get hooked to our screens for everything. The UI, the whole experience. It's fancy. It’s sexy. It reels you in and keeps you hooked. The very bane of our existence.

Want to play a board game? No need to gather your friends for a game of Catan. You can play online.

Want to play chess? No need to have an intense one-on-one session. Just play online.

Wanna go to the movies? But we have Netflix and it's cozy inside.

Thinking of trying a roller coaster, but too chicken? The Vision Pro’s got you.

But is playing the digital version the same as playing the real sport? I mean, you can’t play like Neymar on the field but on the digital version, you can make him dance on your fingertips. But is it actually the same?

It probably isn’t. Let’s get into the basics.

What is a sport?

Quite essentially and quoting from the Cambridge dictionary, a sport is a game, competition, or activity needing physical effort and skill that is played or done according to rules, for enjoyment and/or as a profession.

It takes a certain amount of stamina, strength and physical resilience to play a sport like football. You quite literally get your hands dirty.

Let’s take a look at a PS5 for example. All you really need is hand-eye coordination and an understanding of what keys to play. You probably could even skip understanding the rules.

Ah. The impact of it all. Because god forbid you can do something without thinking about the impact. But I digress.

What playing a sport outside in the real world means outside of general merriment is that it also aids in physical fitness, mental fitness, fosters camaraderie, adaptability and helps in emotional regulation.

As more and more of us opt for console games or video games over the actual sport, we are also choosing to let go (missing out on) of the immense benefits that it provides.

Loneliness epidemic

Football is a team sport. FIFA is a single-player “sport”. You definitely can play with your friends right beside you but that is usually rare.

You have moved to a new city and are yet to make friends. A PS5 is probably the first thing you buy. You wrap up work, get home, play FIFA and then call it a night. Imagine doing this over and over. This is now your new normal. And you are comfortable.

If suddenly someone invites you to go play football on a weekend, you might just take a pause. You have to get up early. You need proper shoes. You are not in your best shape. And you might just decline their kind offer.

You choose being alone just because it's more comfortable.

Social anxieties and lack of confidence

While it comes with its convenience, it also secludes you. It can add to your social anxieties and probably even a lack of confidence to put yourself out there.

When you play a game of football, how you play depends completely on your skills. You may be good but there may be others who are even better.

But on a console game, you are completely in control. You can choose the strongest team. You can also restart the match at any point. What it invariably does is result in your ego-inflation, knowingly or unknowingly.

Simulation over situation

The younger generation is undeniably more comfortable in front of screens than in real situations. And can we really blame them? Screens are shoved in their faces from a young age and it can become a natural part of life.

So, when the time comes to get into sports, choosing virtual reality is easier. It could start out as a stepping stone. Just to learn the rules. See what is about. But then you get better. And it gets harder to stop. To actually step out and learn the sport. Acquire the skills. And so we choose simulation over situation.

Before I began to write this piece, I interviewed everyone in the office here at Kofuku.

And while I am aware that of the three billion gamers in the world, my measly 10 people is not a great sample size. It did give me a smorgasbord of opinions.

Colleague 1 - Arpan

[31. Grumpy guy. Sports fanatic. Straight shooter]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

No it's not. To learn a new sport, you need physical mobility, endurance and training. To learn FIFA, you need money and hand movement.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football amongst the young generation?

Yes, to some extent. Due to tight schedules, and lack of playing areas. FIFA (EAFC) gives people the allure of understanding football superficially since it actually takes a lot of time and effort to learn football. Why make the effort at all if you can simply sit on a couch inside an air-conditioned room?

Colleague 2 - Nilanjan

[28. Co-Founder. Sports enthusiast. Introvert]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

No. When you play with a controller, all you need to be mindful of is how to push the keys and that is how you pass or you score.

So, if people change plans, will you play?

If I do, it would be just to catch up with friends.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

When I simply want to win. I am in control. I can win. Alone.

How do you think FIFA has replaced football amongst the young generation?

Fewer grounds. Exposure to screens from a young age.

Colleague 3 - Kaun

[27. Multitalented. People’s person]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

You will definitely learn the game. But actually playing football is very different. It is extremely physical.

So, if people change plans, will you play?

Yes.

Why?

Same friends. I am not that great at football, I am better at FIFA. If everything else is sorted, I would rather play football.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football amongst the young generation?

For sure. Video games in general. I blame the current generation for this.

Colleague 4 - Waheed

[27. Great football player. Creative. Likes alone time]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

Fundamentally, yes. It's about learning a new skill. Ultimately, because of physical constraints, this is how esports differs from sports.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

Just having something to do. If I am just watching movies, it is kinda passive and that could get exhausting. So if I wanna switch it up and do something, I would rather play video games.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football amongst the young generation?

No. There is no change. FIFA is a good entryway for a lot of people to get into football. But it doesn't replace it.

Colleague 5- Dinesh

[22. Shy. Doesn’t play any sports]

When will you consider playing FIFA/football?

Before playing PS, I did not know anything about football. Now I know the rules. So, I will try because it's a new sport and because all the people around me are playing. I would feel included.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football amongst the young generation?

Dont think so. I think people play football more than FIFA. I did not get to play football because I had no friends to play with.

Colleague 6- Bishal

[27. Great at all sports. Introvert]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

Yes. If you know the rules and strategy, we can play football. But physically, it takes so much more. Breath control, skills, and much more technicalities are involved. Whereas, in FIFA you only need hand-eye coordination.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

Company. It's the same thing as playing football. I am playing with friends.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football among young ones?

Yes. Because of the availability of so many video games, they like playing at home. Also, playing grounds have reduced exponentially.

Colleague 7 - Sattwiki

[22. Does not play sports. Enthu cutlet]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

Not really. All you need to do is memorize the keys. I am completely blind to the actual rules of the game.

Why did you learn to play FIFA?

Because everyone plays at the office. It creates a bond. I wanted to feel included.

Colleague 8 - Deep

[25. Sports fanatic. Quiet. Friendly]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

No. Very different. Physical and virtual game are very different. Tactics, physics everything is different.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

Spending time with my friends.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football among young ones?

Yes. I think so. More screens. More options.

Why do you play football?

I love it. Gives me fitness. Mental release.

Why do you play FIFA?

It's the digital version of the game you love.

Colleague 9 - Soham

[29. Sportsperson. Would rather listen to music than have a conversation.]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

No. It’s completely different. Real life is different.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

I would never proactively want to play FIFA.

Why do you play football?

I love it. Its on the ground. Teamwork. Physical world.

Why do you know FIFA?

If other people played, I played. To feel included.

Colleague 10 - Aarnab

[39. Sportsperson. Jovial. Eccentric]

Is learning to play FIFA the same as learning a new sport(football)?

No. A sport has a certain grammar. FIFA is completely machine-oriented, where you can holistically understand the game.

Why?

Because I know the game. I can utilise the time to play.

When will you consider playing FIFA?

If I have a difficult day ahead, I will play a video game first. Because I know I will win the match, get a boost of confidence and be set for the day. It’s like a dopamine hit.

Do you think FIFA has replaced football among young ones?

Yes. Grounds are not available as much. Kids nowadays are more into their screens. They are more into a simulation.

Why do you play football?

Social circumstance. A way of life. An equalizer among different people. All you need is the skill.

Let’s for a moment consider what football and FIFA have in common. People who play football choose to play FIFA because it is simply a digital version of a game they love. They also play because their friends are playing. And ultimately, we are social beings. We all want to feel included and to belong.

When you simply play a digital version of a game, you don’t necessarily have the same sense of community. You fail to recognize social cues. You do not have to deal with real people and different temperaments. It’s isolating.

Any sport can be a great equalizer. You may come from different socio-economic backgrounds or lead completely different lives. You might not even speak the same language. But on the football field, you're all the same—what matters is the skill you bring.

During my university days in the US, it was cricket that brought us together. Only South Asian kids seemed interested in playing, but that was enough. People from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India would gather, united by a shared love for the sport. And in those moments, I think, there was something poetic about it.

However, when there’s no other option, FIFA becomes the next best thing. And honestly, that might not be such a bad thing after all.