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2006 FIFA World Cup
PAL region cover art
Developer(s)	EA Canada
Publisher(s)	EA Sports
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Mobile phone, PlayStation Portable
Release date(s)	NA April 24, 2006 PAL April 28, 2006 PC, PS2, & X360 NA April 24, 2006 JP April 27, 2006 PAL April 28, 2006 Mobile JP May 18, 2006 PSP PAL May 19, 2006 NA May 22, 2006 JP June 1, 2006
Genre(s)	Sports game
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer, Online multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: E (Everyone) OFLC: G PEGI: 3+ USK: Alle
Media	DVD-ROM (PS2, XBOX, XBOX 360, Windows), UMD (PSP), Nintendo optical disc (GameCube)
Input methods	Game controller Keyboard and Mouse

2006 FIFA World Cup is the official video game for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, published by EA Sports.^[1] 2006 FIFA World Cup was released simultaneously on the GameCube, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360 on April 24, 2006. In Europe it was simultaneously released on April 28, 2006. It was also released on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS handheld systems at the same time as the console versions. As with some other PlayStation Portable games it was released later on May 22, 2006. In Europe, this version was released May 19, 2006. There are nine region-specific covers that feature a major player from each region.^[2]

Microsoft bundled the game with the Xbox 360 in Japan and Europe. It was also bundled with the pre-release order version introduced in India during the days when World Cup fever gripped the nation. In this featured bundle, there was a limited edition faceplate included from Adidas packaged inside.^[3]

Gameplay

The game allows players to participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany by taking control of one of 127 national teams. Since the release of the game 2002 FIFA World Cup, the menus have been redesigned and have more options. It even includes a satellite map when choosing countries to play in a Friendly. Online support is provided for ranked and unranked matches on PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The online service provides lobbies, leaderboards and a global challenge mode where the player can play through over forty historical World Cup scenarios, and even change the history.

By playing online and in single-player mode, spending points for the virtual store are earned, where players can purchase uniforms, historical players, various footballs, boots, and gameplay options. As with the previous World Cup video game, matches in World Cup mode are played in the same order as at the World Cup in Germany.^[4]

Reception

Both IGN and GameSpot rated several versions of the game before its release in North America. The ratings below are the ratings achieved for that particular platform with IGN rankings first, then GameSpot.

Game Rankings ranked the Xbox 360 version of the game highest at 79%.

Playable teams

Despite licensing issues between EA and the KNVB and Japan Football Federation, Japan and the Netherlands are fully licensed with real names and kits.

• numbers in () is in-game world ranking.

Africa

Asia

Europe

North, Central America and Caribbean

South America

Oceania

¹ - Not in FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers
² - Must be placed in qualifiers manually
³ - Now split into  Serbia and  Montenegro ⁴ - Old Flags in the game

Soundtrack

See also

• FIFA 06 Road to FIFA World Cup

References

External links

• 2006 FIFA World Cup (Xbox 360) at GameSpot
• 2006 FIFA World Cup at IGN
• FIFA 2006 World Cup at BytePress
• A list of Xbox 360 Achievements for 2006 FIFA World Cup