In this article, BraeckBall will dive deeply into why Bundesliga is not in eFootball, what that means for players, and how licensing deals shape what you see (or don’t see) in your game. If you’ve been wondering why you can’t play with full German league authenticity, kits, or stadiums in eFootball, this is for you.
What licensing means in football games
Before we get into the Bundesliga situation, it helps to understand how licensing works in games like eFootball.
- Game publishers (like Konami) negotiate licensing agreements with clubs, leagues, players’ unions, stadium owners, etc., to use real names, logos, kits, stadiums, and likenesses in their games.
- If a license ends or isn’t exclusive, a game might only have partial rights—or sometimes none at all—for certain clubs or leagues.
- Licenses are time-limited, often complex, and involve money, brand/Image issues, exclusivity, etc.
Understanding that makes the “Bundesliga missing” issue less surprising—it’s not uncommon in football games when license deals shift.
What we know: recent changes with Bayern and Bundesliga in eFootball
Here’s what has happened recently that explains part of why the Bundesliga is not in eFootball in its full, authentic form:
- Konami confirmed that FC Bayern München’s license will expire on June 30, 2025. That means, official items like Bayern’s name, emblem, kits, and even their stadium (Allianz Arena) will be removed or replaced with generic designs.
- Specifically, starting with a patch, Bayern items will be rebranded in eFootball: generic kits, no stadium rights, etc.
- Konami has stated that this is part of the normal licensing cycle, which means contracts end, new ones may or may not be renewed, and sometimes clubs switch to other game publishers.
- For German fans, the absence of Bayern’s license is a big blow, because they were one of the few Bundesliga clubs fully licensed in the game. Once their license ends, that reduces Bundesliga’s presence significantly.
Why Bundesliga as a whole isn’t fully licensed in eFootball
Even beyond Bayern, there are several reasons why the entire Bundesliga isn’t represented authentically in eFootball:
- Exclusive deals with competitors: Often the rights for an entire league (or big chunks of it) are tied up with other publishers. If another company has an exclusive or preferential contract, Konami might be prevented.
- Cost and bargaining power: German clubs and the Bundesliga (DFL) likely demand high fees for the full licensing package—logos, kits, stadiums, etc. Not all game publishers see that as worthwhile or affordable.
- Partial licensing vs full league licensing: Sometimes games will get rights for individual clubs but not the full league. That means you can have Bayern (if licensed) but not the rest, or you might have generic names/logos for some clubs.
- Ownership of intellectual property: The rights to names, logos, stadium likenesses, etc., are often separately held; some may be owned by the club, some by the league, some even by sponsors. Sorting all those out is complex.
What “not in Bundesliga” looks like in eFootball
Because of the licensing issues, what players currently see (or will see soon) in eFootball when it comes to Bundesliga includes:
- Generic teams: Clubs without active licensing appear with made-up names, fake logos, and plain or “house” kits.
- Missing stadiums: Iconic grounds like Allianz Arena may be removed or replaced after license expirations.
- Partial authenticity: Players might still have real player names or likenesses (via FIFPRO licenses), even if team branding is gone.
- Owned assets stay: If you already have emblems, kits, stadiums, etc.,, depending on the developer’s policy.
Is there any hope for Bundesliga returning to eFootball?
Yes, there is some hope, but it depends on negotiations and whether Konami can reach new licensing deals. Here are the possible ways:
- New partnership with individual clubs: Even if the entire Bundesliga isn’t licensed, Konami can get individual clubs back (like Borussia Dortmund, which rumors suggest might come in).
- League-level deal with DFL: If Konami can negotiate with the Bundesliga’s governing body for league-wide rights, then full kits, logos, stadiums might come back.
- Non-exclusive licensing: Sometimes clubs allow their rights to appear in multiple games; if Bayern or others agree, they might license to both Konami and EA.
- Fan demand and commercial incentive: If enough players complain, or if gaming market research shows losing Bundesliga authenticity hurts sales, that can push publishers to pursue or renew licenses.
Summary of key timeline and facts
- FC Bayern’s license with Konami expires on 30 June 2025. After that, official Bayern content (name, crest, kits, stadium) will be replaced.
- Starting June 26, 2025, many of these changes begin to take effect.
- Other Bundesliga clubs may or may not have licensing (some had before), but without full league licensing, authenticity remains partial.
- Konami has hinted at future license announcements (end of July) regarding new agreements.
Implications for players & fans
For you who loves to play eFootball, especially with German teams, this means:
- If you want full authenticity, you may need to shift either to games that have the Bundesliga licensed (like competitors) or wait for Konami to secure new rights.
- For now, some Bundesliga teams will appear as “generic” (no official names, kits, emblems) in eFootball.
- Players you already own from Bayern will often keep their appearance/name in certain modes, depending on how Konami preserves owned content.
- Stadiums like Allianz Arena might disappear.
Common misconceptions and clarifications
- It’s not that Konami hates German teams; it’s a matter of contracts, cost, and how licensing deals are structured.
- Having real player names via FIFPRO doesn’t mean full club authenticity—teams, crests, kits, stadiums are separate licensing issues.
- Just because Bayern is leaving does not necessarily mean every Bundesliga club is gone; it depends on individual club agreements.
Conclusion
Why Bundesliga is not in eFootball (or is severely limited) comes down mostly to licensing: Bayern’s contract expired, full league licensing hasn’t been secured (often because of cost, exclusivity or competitor deals), and Konami is making changes to reflect these losses. While you may still see real players, much of the branding and stadium authenticity will vanish unless new deals are made.
If you’re a fan, Braeckball encourages you keep your eyes on what Konami announces around licenses—there might be a return of official Bundesliga content
