If you've ever fired up a football video game and wondered why one of Italy's most famous clubs turned into a generic side named Piemonte Calcio, you aren't alone. The strange absence of Juventus from EA Sports' flagship titles comes down to multi-million-dollar corporate rivalries, exclusive licensing deals, and fierce competition in the digital sports market.
The short answer is that Juventus signed an exclusive, long-term partnership with Konami—the developers of eFootball (formerly Pro Evolution Soccer)—starting in 2019. This agreement legally blocked EA Sports from using the club's name, crest, stadium, and official kits for several years, forcing a creative workaround that baffled gamers worldwide.
The Konami Agreement and Exclusive Rights
In July 2019, Konami shocked the sports gaming industry by announcing an exclusive partnership with Juventus F.C. Before this deal, major European clubs often signed partnerships with multiple video game franchises, appearing fully licensed in both EA's FIFA series and Konami's PES series.
Juventus changed that model. Their agreement gave Konami exclusive rights to feature the club's identity—including the iconic black-and-white stripes, official crest, and the Allianz Stadium—in console football games. Because of this exclusivity clause, EA Sports lost the legal right to include Juventus in FIFA 20, FIFA 21, and FIFA 22.
While Konami got full 3D player scans and stadium rights, EA had to strip the club out of its game entirely. However, because EA still held a separate collective licensing agreement with FIFPRO (the international players' union) and the Italian Serie A league, they were allowed to keep the actual real-life players in the game. Real players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala still ran onto virtual pitches, but they played for a fictional team.
Birth of Piemonte Calcio and Fake Branding
Stripped of the Juventus license but permitted to use player likenesses, EA needed a placeholder name. They introduced Piemonte Calcio.
- The Name: Piemonte refers to the region in northwestern Italy where Turin (the home of Juventus) is located. Calcio simply means football in Italian.
- The Crest and Kits: EA designed a custom, abstract badge and a generic home kit that featured inverted black and white accents to mimic the team's historic look without violating copyrights.
- The Stadium: The Allianz Stadium was replaced by a generic venue called the Stadion Municipal.
Even though the branding was entirely fictional, the team behaved like Juventus in Career Mode and Ultimate Team. They had the exact squad ratings, transfer budgets, and tactical setups of the real-world club. Fans could still buy team cards on the transfer market, though they featured generic badges.
When Did Juventus Return to EA Sports?
The exclusive partnership between Juventus and Konami eventually expired, paving the way for a reconciliation. Ahead of FIFA 23, EA Sports announced that Juventus had officially returned to the franchise.
The multi-year renewal between EA and Juventus restored the authentic club name, crest, kits, and stadium to the game. When the franchise rebranded from FIFA to EA Sports FC, Juventus remained a fully licensed partner, meaning players no longer have to deal with fictional substitutes like Piemonte Calcio.
Common Misconceptions About Club Licensing
Licensing in sports video games is notoriously murky, leading to plenty of rumors whenever a team changes its name or disappears.
Some fans assumed that financial disputes caused the split, while others thought individual players refused to sign image rights over to EA. In reality, exclusive video game rights are pure business. Konami targeted top-tier Italian clubs to claw back market share from EA's dominant franchise, utilizing exclusivity as a weapon. Similar deals have affected other clubs over the years, such as AS Roma, Atalanta, Lazio, and Napoli, all of which have spent time under exclusive digital agreements with Konami's eFootball.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piemonte Calcio still in EA Sports FC?
No. Piemonte Calcio only existed during the window of Konami's exclusive partnership (FIFA 20 through FIFA 22). Once Juventus and EA renewed their partnership for FIFA 23 and subsequent EA Sports FC titles, the real club name and branding returned completely.
Do real players still play for Juventus in the game?
Yes. Even when the club was called Piemonte Calcio, the players' real names, faces, and statistics remained intact because EA licensed them through separate collective agreements.
Can you still play as Juventus in eFootball?
Yes. Konami maintains a partnership with Juventus, meaning the club features prominently in the free-to-play eFootball platform with authentic partner club branding.
Why do some other Italian clubs have fake names in EA Sports FC?
Clubs like Lazio or Atalanta have occasionally signed individual partnership deals with rival gaming companies or failed to reach collective licensing agreements with league bodies, forcing developers to use pseudonyms and generic badges. You can check official league updates on the EA Sports FC Official Website for current roster status.
