If you tried to play as Juventus in FIFA 20, FIFA 21, or FIFA 22, you probably noticed the club was entirely missing. Instead, a fictional team named Piemonte Calcio took its place, complete with a generic crest, a fake stadium, and a strange black-and-pink kit.
The real reason Juventus wasn't in FIFA comes down to a high-stakes licensing battle between Electronic Arts (EA) and its rival publisher, Konami. In July 2019, Juventus signed an exclusive, multi-year partnership with Konami for the Pro Evolution Soccer (later eFootball) franchise. This agreement blocked EA from using the club's name, official crest, official kits, and home venue (the Allianz Stadium) in the FIFA series.
While players still featured real-world names and likenesses because EA held a separate collective agreement with FIFPRO, the club itself vanished under its actual identity. Understanding how video game licensing works reveals why these multi-million dollar exclusivity deals happen and how they impact virtual football.
How Video Game Licensing Works in Football
To feature real teams, players, and leagues, video game companies must secure various layers of legal rights. People often assume that buying a football game grants access to every club in the world, but licensing is split into fragmented, fiercely contested contracts.
EA Sports historically built its dominance by acquiring broad licenses across global leagues. However, individual clubs or leagues can negotiate separate exclusive deals. When Konami approached Juventus with a lucrative offer, the club exercised its right to partner independently.
[EA Sports / FIFA Series] <---> FIFPRO (Player Likenesses Only)
X
[Konami / eFootball] <---> Juventus FC (Exclusive Name, Badge, Kit, Stadium)
This split caused a strange legal split. EA could legally use the players' faces and real names because of their union agreements, but they couldn't call the club Juventus or use its official branding.
The Birth of Piemonte Calcio
When EA lost the license, they couldn't simply pretend Juventus didn't exist in the Italian Serie A. Career mode, Ultimate Team, and tournament structures required a full roster of 20 teams in the league.
This led to the creation of Piemonte Calcio. The name derived from Piedmont (Piemonte), the region in northwest Italy where Turin is located. Calcio simply means football in Italian.
During these years, Piemonte Calcio functioned like any other team. It had a custom badge, a fictional stadium shared with generic teams, and a custom jersey. Yet, underneath the surface, stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala still played for the squad with their real faces and ratings. Chemistry styles and player cards in Ultimate Team adjusted normally, even if the badge looked unfamiliar.
When Did Juventus Return to FIFA?
The Konami exclusivity deal lasted for three years. Once that contract expired, Juventus and EA Sports negotiated a new agreement.
Ahead of FIFA 23—the final game in EA's long-running series before it rebranded to EA Sports FC—EA announced that Juventus had officially returned. The partnership brought back the authentic name, crest, stadium, and kits, alongside club legends like Claudio Marchisio joining as FUT Heroes.
Konami’s strategy of locking down single-club exclusives changed how sports video games market themselves, pushing both publishers to fight aggressively for team partnerships.
Common Misconceptions About Missing Teams
Fans frequently confuse why certain teams disappear from sports titles. Several myths surround licensing gaps:
- Myth: EA didn't want to pay for them. While budget disagreements happen, exclusivity contracts driven by rival publishers are usually the primary barrier.
- Myth: Players are removed from the game. Individual player licenses are usually handled collectively via player unions, meaning players often remain even if the club branding is stripped.
- Myth: Fake names mean players have fake stats. Procedural or generic team wrappers do not affect individual player attributes or performance data within match engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Juventus in EA Sports FC?
Yes. Following the expiration of their Konami agreement, Juventus returned to the franchise starting with FIFA 23 and remains fully licensed in current entries of EA Sports FC.
Which other teams have been missing from FIFA?
Other Italian clubs like AS Roma, Atalanta, Lazio, and Napoli have historically signed exclusive agreements with Konami's eFootball, forcing EA to use generic names like Roma FC or Latium. You can check current roster updates directly on the EA Sports FC Official Website.
Do fake team names affect Ultimate Team chemistry?
No. During the Piemonte Calcio era, chemistry links depended on nationality, league, and overall player links rather than the club's display name or badge.
Can custom patches fix missing team names on consoles?
Historically, PC and PlayStation players could import option files with custom kits and badges to fix unlicenced teams, though Xbox limitations made this much harder.
