The football fever sweeping the globe during the World Cup is spilling over into the gaming world. As top-tier athletes deliver stellar performances, fan interest is extending beyond the stadium and into the game. The more these world-class players shine on the pitch, the more fans are logging into 'FC Online' to take control of those very players themselves.

In particular, because 'FC Online' allows players to deploy the athletes they’ve just watched and devise their own tactics before or after a match, it’s clear that fans are no longer content with just watching—they are expanding their enjoyment of football by actively participating in the experience.

This trend is largely driven by the 'Live Performance System' in 'FC Online,' which reflects real-world match performances in players' in-game stats. Through this system, athletes who stand out in tournaments see their in-game stats boosted by up to 5 points, allowing users to see the real-time impact of a player's performance reflected in the game.

As a result, players like Yamal and Haaland, who are making waves in current tournaments, are seeing high demand in the game's transfer market, with the popularity of newly emerging prospects also being reflected in real time. Many users are also taking on the role of manager, building their own national teams and enjoying the game on a squad-wide level.

The 'digital live-viewing' culture, where fans watch matches alongside creators on Naver’s streaming platform Chzzk, is also thought to be a contributing factor. Before a match, fans use 'FC Online' to build squads for both teams to analyze strength and predict outcomes; at halftime, they evaluate player stats based on the first half; and after the final whistle, they refine their own squads, integrating the game into their overall football-watching experience.

As watching matches and playing the game merge into a single flow, the experience is shifting from passively sitting in front of a screen to actively participating—making judgments and adjusting tactics in real time based on the flow of the actual game.

In line with this trend, Nexon announced that it has prepared a variety of content and events for new, returning, and existing players alike. The plan is to not only carry the heat of real-world matches into the game but also to lower the barrier to entry by ensuring that even first-time players can jump right into the action.

Returning players are provided with support packs that allow them to immediately assemble a 11-man squad and join the competition on equal footing. For existing players, the 'FC World Festa' allows them to re-recruit popular players from the past, while the 'Player Training' content on mobile lets them develop 'SH' class players, adding even more to the season's excitement. All eyes are on how the World Cup fever will continue to unfold within FC Online.