The FIFA 16 game hit stores today and EA Sports held a launch party last night in NYC to celebrate the release. For the first time in the video game’s history, a female player (Alex Morgan) will be on the U.S. cover. So what better way for EA Sports to celebrate than by inviting some of the members U.S. Women’s National Team to the party?
At the event, I had the opportunity to speak to USWNT striker Sydney Leroux, who told me about the great atmosphere on the team during the tournament, which translated into confidence that they would win the World Cup. They eventually did so by defeating Japan 5-2.
“It may sound weird, but I just knew we were going to win from the beginning,” she told me.
Leroux also shared that she is a FIFA video game fan and that she prefers XBOX, which is apparently a problem because her husband, Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer, likes Playstation. But hey, every marriage has its problems.
When I asked her what Latino player she liked, she was quick to name Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.
“He’s always good to have on a team.”
It seems like the members of the U.S. team have plenty of love for Chicharito. FIFA 16 cover star and U.S. striker Alex Morgan also recently stated that she identifies with the Mexican forward.
The USWNT’s public show of affection for the Mexican player reminds us that despite the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry, it should never be just that. Rather, a healthy sports rivalry should help unite two bordering countries that share a very complex relationship.