Soccer has never been very popular in the United States, if only because its 45-minute halves of continuous action are unlike the frequent start-stop dynamic of pro football, baseball, and basketball. Throw in the typically low score of a soccer match, and it isn't difficult to understand the general lack of interest in the game. That being the case, computer and video soccer games have traditionally been designed for foreign markets and later released in the US in hopes of making some additional sales. But EA Sports changed all that with FIFA for the Sega Genesis console, which proved to be successful both in Europe and the United States, and started one of EA Sports' most important brands. And judging by FIFA 2000, this high-quality soccer franchise is still going strong.
