FIFA, EA AND XBOX WELCOME THE WORLD'S BEST VIRTUAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO THE FIFA INTERACTIVE WORLD CUP GRAND FINAL 2006

GENEVA, Switzerland - 05 December, 2006 - Following intense battles on the virtual football pitches during the qualifying stages of the third annual FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC), FIFA, Xbox®, and Electronic Arts congratulate the 128 finalists who have now secured their place in the FIWC Grand Final. Since October, fans of real and virtual football from around the world have competed in off and online qualifying events for their chance to take on the ultimate challenge of becoming the FIFA Interactive World Player 2006 and to receive a cash prize of USD $20,000. The 128 finalists will get an all expenses paid trip to compete at the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final at the Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam on Saturday, 9 December (16:00 CET). The winner of the Grand Final will also be invited to attend the FIFA World Payer Gala 2006 at the Opera House in Zurich on Monday, 18 December.

A truly global event, the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2006 saw more than 20 qualifying events take place around the world, while the Xbox Live® part of the tournament gave gamers from 25 countries the opportunity to compete for their place in the final. Overall, close to 30,000 matches were played during the online and offline qualifiers with contestants scoring a total of 65,000 goals.

This year will see the biggest and most exciting Grand Final in the history of the FIFA Interactive World Cup, as the 68 winners and finalists from the off line qualifiers and 44 winners and runners up from the Xbox Live tournament will meet the 16 finalists from the two previous FIWC tournaments. All 128 virtual football virtuosos will compete at the Grand Final using EA SPORTS FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 system, enjoying the most authentic virtual football experience to date. A complete list of all 128 finalists is available at www.FIFA.com.

The FIWC Grand Final 2006 will be a true carnival of football, combining the very best real and virtual sporting action with appearances by celebrity footballers and musical background provided by international bands and DJs. Spectators of the competition will be able to follow all the final matches, show off their own skills in the live interactive football zone and celebrate with the winner at the event after-party. Music will be supplied by the globe trotting headline act The Infadels and local Dutch heroes The Sheer - both great fans of the game. Visitors can apply for free tickets at www.FIFA.com.

"The FIFA Interactive World Cup is an excellent platform to bring gamers into football. It is a fantastic competition and I think it has a great future. Over the three years since its inauguration, I have witnessed incredible virtual football action which promises thrilling games and excitement at the upcoming Grand Final in Amsterdam. The interactive football gaming is a spectacular and exhilarating variation of our sport. The pressure people put on themselves, the healthy rivalry between the players and their passion for the game is impressive. I am really looking forward to seeing the Grand Final", said FIFA Executive Member Chuck Blazer, who will represent the FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter at the Grand Final.

"Congratulations to each of the FIFA Interactive World Cup finalists who've really proved they have what it takes to compete for the title of FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year," said Clive Downie, Vice President Sports Marketing, EA. "At EA SPORTS we've witnessed some incredible virtual football action throughout the qualifying stages and we can't wait to watch the magic unfold during the Grand Final in Amsterdam on the 9th of December. It's now down to pure skill on the FIFA 07 game. The winner will earn true global bragging rights as FIFA Interactive World Player 2006 and will walk away with an additional prize of $20,000 in cash."

"We're really excited to be part of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2006 - exclusively bringing next generation, high-definition football gaming action to players across the globe with FIFA 07. The gaming tournament on Xbox Live was a great success allowing our 4 million members worldwide the chance be part of this great competition and take on their friends. It will be great to see the finals played out on the screen in Amsterdam, just like being at a big match for real," said Richard Teversham, Head of Marketing, Xbox Europe.

FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 heralds the start of the next generation of football gaming with the dynamic new EA SPORTS engine and all-new gameplay. Moving away from the traditional animation-based game engine, raw physics and data now drive the action, creating true-to-life movement, an unprecedented level of responsiveness and the most advanced visuals seen in a football game. For the first time ever the ball is alive with its own independent physics, resulting in truly unpredictable gameplay. Now any type of pass or shot is possible and goals feel natural and unique. The new engine creates a wealth of data, including never-before-experienced real-time player analysis that gives you the power to make real tactical decisions when managing your players. Partner the new engine with the most innovative and extensive online feature sets to date, with 4 v 4 and streaming real world news, FIFA 07 truly blurs the lines between videogames and reality.

Photos from qualifier events are already available at www.FIFA.com from the final will also be posted to the site.

For complete rules for the FIFA Interactive World Cup, see http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/FIC2006/0,7633,15,00.html.

To request the Official Emblem of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2006, please fill out the marks request form for media on www.FIFAdigitalarchive.com.

About FIFA

For more than 100 years, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris and better known as FIFA, has continued to provide the essential leadership role to the international football family. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the eighth FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland), guides the organisation today with a commitment to the evolution of FIFA as a modern and dynamic association. The basis of the world's football family is formed by FIFA's member associations. >From the founding seven in 1904, the family has today grown to 207 affiliated associations, also organised into six confederations spanning the globe. FIFA's worldwide activities go well beyond its various competitions, such as the world's biggest single-sport event, the FIFA World Cup. In projects such as the FIFA GOAL Programme as well as several other development and charity activities such as the SOS Children Villages, UNICEF and streetfootballworld, FIFA gives material, financial and promotional support to develop the game and bring joy to underprivileged worldwide. For further details on FIFA's events and activities please go to www.FIFA.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. The system was first launched in North America, Europe and Japan in 2005 and then in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in 2006. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox Live

Xbox Live is the first and only unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox Live connects millions of members across 24 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox Live Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, and movie trailers, as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox, Xbox Live and Xbox 360 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Electronic Arts

Bettina Hintze

+41 22 316 1327

bhintze@europe.ea.com

FIFA Media Department

Delia Fischer

Tel.: +41-43/222 7272,

E-mail: media@fifa.org

FIWC media manager

Helena Reid

+44 1625 540503 hreid@activesportsmarketing.com

Xbox

Marie-Claire Suter

Tel: +44 (0) 118 909 4599

Email: i-maries@microsoft.com