Strikerz Inc. prepares for Ultimate Football League launch in 2023

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Feature image credit: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

The number of video-gamers has accelerated in growth each year, with market research estimating a total of 3.09 billion playing across multiple consoles and devices.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw participation in video-gaming reach an all time high. Statista, a highly trusted analytics company, gave insight into how gamers were behaving inside their digital gaming communities. They discovered that six in every ten gamers were playing online multi-player games more frequently, and that gamer participation multiplied rapidly.

The appetite for video games has created a market where gaming developers are focusing on connecting with gamers across multiple consoles and devices. Statista also found that approximately 227 million people in the United States play video games one to a few hours per week – mind boggling numbers for a country that is estimated to have around 330 million residents.

Understanding just how big the video gaming community is, we can take a closer look at Strikerz Inc. – and how they plan to become the number one football video game in the world with their Ultimate Football League (UFL) franchise.

Who is Strikerz Inc?

Strikerz Inc. is a video game-creating collective and an international gaming brand launched in 2016 by a handful of people involved with online football. Currently, there are 200+ employees located in over five regional offices in various locations across Europe. Strikerz Inc. is the force behind the UFL, the ongoing online football video-game revolution. With the company’s employees being avid football fans, it aims to offer its players an unprecedented gaming experience available on all major platforms.

Tell me more about the UFL game:

The UFL game is a free-to-play football game that focuses on online gameplay as its main priority. For those new to the gaming world, free-to-play means that most aspects of the game can be played without the gamer incurring any charges. This is an important feature as several games online let users pay money in order to gain a competitive advantage whilst playing games. The free-to-play model presents a more level playing field amongst online gamers, therefore adapting the ‘free-to-play, fair-to-play slogan’.

The gameplay has only been released in small snippets for fans to see, but early signs suggest that the game is going to be a major player amongst football video-games. The attention to detail to the finer aesthetics is a sight to behold. Strikerz Inc. has gone above and beyond to ensure that each team’s home stadium and supporters are replicated accurately. For example, you will find West Ham’s iconic home ground, the London Stadium, accurately portrayed to replicate a West Ham game day. The exact lighting gantry specifications and side-line visuals, such as the bubble machines, are truly represented creating a lifelike playing experience.

UFL was due to be released earlier this year (2022), but in August, Strikerz Inc. CEO Eugene Nashilov announced that the game’s release date will be pushed back to 2023.

“We at Strikerz Inc. have always set a very high bar for ourselves, both inside and outside the studio. Our goal now, as it was then, is nothing less than the delivery of a triple-A quality, reactive, realistic football simulator featuring top-of-the-line graphics and gameplay,” he said in a statement.

There is no doubt that the UFL creators are taking their time fine-tuning the game before releasing it worldwide on multiple platforms. UFL will be available across PlayStation, Xbox, and the popular PC – a platform that 63 per cent of gaming developers have focused their attention on.

The Strikerz Inc. team have been working hard on the UFL project since 2016, securing important licences along the way. FIFPro is a worldwide organisation representing footballers who currently have over 65,000 professional players on their books. FIFPro, along with sports analytics company, InStat, will provide up to date analytics on players to support the UFL game.

In preparation for the 2023 release, Strikerz Inc. has promised engagement and transparency with fans and the gaming community. They have released UFL Journey, a show broken down into episodes giving fans a behind the scenes look at how the game was made and previews of what fans can look forward to. The episodes can be found on the UFL website or on YouTube. They also host Q&A sessions and regularly update fans on any new developments surrounding the game.

How is Strikerz Inc. preparing for the 2023 UFL release?

The company has wasted no time promoting the game with Strikerz Inc. – having recently signed a partnership with Bundesliga powerhouse, Bayer Leverkusen. Commenting on the new deal. Nashilov said via press release: “The history of Bayer 04 shows you should never give up while there’s still a chance. They won the European trophy because they played to the final whistle. That’s a trait that we, at Strikerz Inc., have always admired. And we are happy to welcome Bayer 04 into the UFL family.”

The Leverkusen partnership adds to the already impressive list of clubs partnering with Strikerz Inc. Over the past year, the gaming developers have managed to secure partnerships with Borussia Monchengladbach, AS Monaco, and English Premier League side West Ham United. As for the players, UFL has already secured several football superstars to become ambassadors of the game. Arguably the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, has thrown his support behind the game becoming the face of the franchise. He joins Manchester City star, Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, and Belgian International, Romelu Lukaku, as faces of UFL.

The UFL game is due to be released at a time when football fans are pondering their next go-to football game. Currently, EA Sports’ FIFA franchise is the globally renowned football game, but it was announced it will be discontinued, with FIFA 2023 being the last instalment.

EA Sports confirmed that it failed to reach a new licensing agreement with FIFA and would turn its attention to an EA Sports FC game. This news opens the door for UFL to potentially take the reigns as the world’s number one footballing video game going forward.

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Referee Omar Artan appointed to UEFA Super Cup Final

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Image credit: BBC

The Somali referee will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in August between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

 

World Cup controversy to Super Cup support

As 2025’s CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, Artan stands as one of the world’s leading match officials.

His expertise and skill allowed him to enter FIFA’s international list in 2018, and has since proved an outstanding ability as a referee, culminating in the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award last year.

Despite Artan’s capabilities and reputation, his dream of officiating this summer’s World Cup tournament met a premature ending. The referee couldn’t enter into the US after arriving on a diplomatic passport and single entry visa, and was subsequently forced to return home to Somalia.

But Artan’s journey as a referee on the global stage is far from over, as UEFA and CAF confirmed that Artan will officiate the UEFA Super Cup clash between Champions League winners, PSG, and Europa League winners, Aston Villa, in Salzburg this August.

 

Upholding the partnership

In April of this year, UEFA and CAF signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which promised to utilise mutual support to encourage development, inclusion and wellbeing in football.

The MoU aligns unity, cohesion and partnership between two powerhouse continents of world football.

And now, the alignment is stronger and clearer than ever. In the midst of a major blow to Artan’s personal and professional dreams, UEFA and CAF’s partnership provided an opportunity.

“Omar is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin via media release.

“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.”

Furthermore, CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, outlined why the initiative perfectly embodies the nature of a partnership between UEFA and CAF.

“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide.”

 

Final thoughts

Out of bitter disappointment and controversy comes a far more positive reflection of football’s positive impact. It also proves that an MoU is more than just signatures, but a genuine promise to support the game and all within it.

A partnership like this has the power to help millions at once.

But sometimes, helping just one person is all it takes to prove its worth.

Build a home, create a culture: How do we secure the Socceroos as global competitors?

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Image credit: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

The Socceroos kicked off their World Cup campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Turkey. It was an important win for their tournament ambitions, but also a statement about their quality on the world stage. It is time that we built a facility to ensure this quality is nurtured, not stifled.

Otherwise, we risk falling behind.

 

One of four…

Australia’s Men’s National Team currently sits as the 23rd-ranked team in the world in the official FIFA rankings. The Matildas, meanwhile, are the 15th highest-ranked women’s team.

This year is also the sixth consecutive FIFA Men’s World Cup featuring the Socceroos, confirming their position as a regular competitor in the most prestigious tournament in world football.

So why is it, despite these undeniably positive reflections of Australia’s growth in international football, that the Socceroos are still homeless?

At the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar, Australia was one of four competing teams (a list featuring Denmark, Poland and Senegal) without a national base. In 2024, former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold described the team as “homeless” ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

But four years on from the tournament’s last edition, the situations remains the same. And the world is taking notice.

 

A letter to the PM

In April this year, FIFA reportedly wrote to Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, encouraging the construction of a permanent home for football in the country.

The letter reflects concerns within the governing body that Australia, despite being so present in international football throughout the past 25 years, may fall behind the rest of the pack.

When we look at the talent in the current squad, Australia is by no means an emerging football economy. But commercial and infrastructural limitations in the landscape mean this talent is under-appreciated.

Nevertheless, it is a nation which regularly proves it can compete – and win – on the biggest stage. This we saw only a few days ago.

Which is why the players, coaches and staff representing the nation deserve a permanent facility which reflects, nurtures and inspires talent and competition. The survival of the landscape depends on it.

 

The investment question

Investment into football – from grassroots to professional levels – continues to be at the crux of national debate on how to secure football’s future in Australia.

In a conversation between Soccerscene and Melbourne-based community club, Sunbury United FC, infrastructure and facility-sharing challenges emphasised common grievances for many grassroots clubs.

The issue, therefore, is spread across the nation’s football pyramid. And prompts an uncomfortable question about future investments:

If even the Socceroos continue to share their current base, Leichhardt Oval, with various teams across rugby league and soccer, how can we ever expect clubs further down the pyramid to avoid similar fates?

The past few years, however, have fortunately seen improved investment into the women’s game in Australia – particularly embodied by the ‘Home of the Matildas’.

The result of a $101.1 million investment by the Victorian Government in collaboration with La Trobe University and the Federal Government, the facility boasts elite training features including premium FIFA-standard pitches, multiple changing rooms, a high-performance gym, a sports science lab and more.

This was a welcome and vital boost ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which took place in Australia. Now, ever-increasing participation and pride are synonymous with women’s football, and the numbers confirm it.

In 2023, women and girls represented 190,746 participants across social, outdoor, fustal and registered football. In 2025, this increased to 231,435. It proves that, with the arrival of purposeful investment at the top, comes the spread of a football culture across the nation.

 

Aligning practical and cultural benefits

But what would a potential facility for the Socceroos actually look like? And what are the benefits?

When considering similar projects, we can look to both Japan and England as distinct examples of how a national base for football can unite practical, social and cultural benefits.

St George’s Park – England

Built in 2012, England’s base at St George’s Park is a masterclass in using facilities to establish a centre for industry cohesion and community impact.

As a centre of excellence, St George’s Park holds 14 outdoor pitches, a fustal arena, and hosts coaching and medical courses. It welcomes 28 teams across men’s, women’s, youth and para football, representing a place of unity and alignment for the entire football community.

Furthermore, the ‘Play Like the Pride’ program offers grassroots participants and school students the chance to experience the elite facilities for a day, showing how facilities can serve to connect young players to the world of their professional idols and foster real passion for the game.

JFA J-Village – Japan

The J-Village – beyond being a state-of-the-art football training centre – shows why a home for football can positively impact the community.

After being used as a support base for the nuclear power plant accident following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the venue now holds a deeply important place in the memory of Fukishima. As a result, upon resuming full operations in 2019, the facility – and the football development within it – represented a sense of perseverance, reconstruction and unity.

And through hotels and public transportation links, the J-Village also welcomes tourists and business travellers, encouraging more people to step into the world of football in Japan.

One venue, therefore, can give rise to an essential part of a thriving football landscape: culture. A culture for participation, community outreach, and elite development.

 

Final thoughts

The focus of the summer will no doubt be how the Socceroos perform on the pitch. And with homes, offices, and public spaces brimming with enthusiastic support, the sense of national pride is irresistible.

But for all the positive sentiment currently taking hold of the nation, there will come a time when Australia’s World Cup run is over, at which point an all-important question must be asked:

How do we move forward?

We move forward by transforming buzz into an aligned vision, commitment to nurturing talent, and a desire to establish a real footballing culture across the nation.

The first step to building this culture? Building a home from which it can thrive.

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