NEXON is once again blurring the line between virtual gaming and real-world football. The publisher of the hit titles EA Sports FC Online and EA Sports FC Mobile has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.
The high-profile exhibition will take place on September 13 and 14, 2,025 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea. The “Icons Match” serves as the centerpiece of Nexon, looking to bridge the real-world sport and its video game titles. It offers fans an experience that is unique and cannot be found anywhere else.
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The match is viewed as more than just a friendly. Instead, these 90 minutes on the pitch are a way for players to see the excitement of EA Sports FC Online and EA Sports FC Mobile brought to life, realizing dreams that most fans could only experience on a screen.
What to expect from 2025’s Icons Match
This year’s event revives the unique “Spear vs. Shield” concept, where attackers and defenders go head-to-head in a thematic showdown.
Team Spear (FC Spear) returns to the field, determined to avenge their loss from last year’s match. The event’s popularity is already apparent, as tickets sold out within minutes of their release, demonstrating the intense fan interest and the high demand for this one-of-a-kind spectacle.
The match features a star-studded lineup of legendary players, including:
- FC Spear: Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Ronaldinho, Eden Hazard, Kaká, Franck Ribery, and Gareth Bale
- Shield United: Carles Puyol, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon, Sol Campbell, and Ashley Cole
Additionally, the two legendary teams will be led by renowned managers Arsène Wenger and Rafa Benítez.
How to watch the 2025 Icons Match
Last year’s event drew an impressive crowd of 64,210 fans and a cumulative online audience of approximately 3.6 million viewers, highlighting the event’s global reach. Shield United ultimately claimed a 4-1 victory, with a surprise appearance from Korean football legend Jisung Park, who scored a penalty to the roaring cheers of the crowd.
This year, fans who can’t attend the event in person can still catch all the action. The main match on September 14 will be available to watch globally via EA SPORTS FC Mobile’s in-game channel. Both days of the event will also be broadcast on the official YouTube channels of FC Online Vietnam and Thailand.
EA SPORTS FC Online and EA SPORTS FC Mobile will release the “Icons Match” event on September 13-14, 2025, on the field and via streaming through FC Online and Shoot For Love YouTube channels
