During any given free period, seniors huddle around an Xbox One, their faces illuminated by the glow of a tiny television set.
Cheers or groans emanate from the crowd as goals are either scored or missed. What started as just another game available in the senior lounge has quickly grown to be the most popular, and EA Sports FC has become the unexpected social center of the senior class.
The EA Sports FC video game series, also known as FIFA, is a long-running, annually released soccer simulation game that allows players to control real teams and players in virtual matches.
With the sport of soccer increasing in popularity nationwide, the video game has also gained more and more fans, with many of them discovering soccer for the first time.
For senior Elijah Kraus, his first experience with playing the game was watching people play when the Xbox first entered the senior lounge. Having never played it before, Kraus was reluctant to join in. But, starting small with games during quieter periods and lower stakes, Kraus began to build up confidence and develop a stronger desire to play the game.
“I was reluctant to play at first because (I thought), ‘wow, there are too many sweats, I’ll get cooked,’” Kraus said. “But then I finally played in some free periods with fewer people, so it would be less embarrassing when I would lose, and I was like, ‘dang, this is really fun.’”
For Kraus, the skill difference did not discourage him; instead, it motivated him to get better, so he bought EA Sports FC to play at home and started spending more time delving into the more advanced techniques. As the game in the senior lounge has served to get those unaware more interested, other seniors are now joining in.
Senior Tarik Syed, who has played games similar to EA Sports FC before, credits the game’s realism to its skyrocketing popularity. Additionally, for students who enjoy watching soccer, the game offers the unique opportunity of placing the players in the stadiums they’ve watched since they were younger.
“A lot of kids in our grade love soccer and have grown up watching European football,” Syed said. “FIFA is a great way to express your love for the game. A bunch of guys also started playing pickup (soccer) because of it, too.”
But, for the students in the senior lounge who’s fondness for the game doesn’t come from a deep passion for soccer, the reason for sitting down with a controller in hand is much simpler: they just want to enjoy a game with their friends, an experience not often found on campus.
Especially for seniors, who have recently shouldered the pressures of the college adimissions process, EA Sports FC offers a much-needed breath of fresh air.
“It’s definitely a de-stressing activity that takes you away from the realities of being a student at the school,” Syed said. “But it’s also addictive. The good part is that there’s a barrier to entry: people are always playing.”
EA Sports FC has also served to aid seniors in other, more unexpected ways. For many students, it has helped to relieve stress during the day. Kraus has found himself happier at school during the day.
“I actually kind of enjoy coming to school,” Kraus said. “Sometimes I find it easier to get out of bed in the morning because I know that I have a few FIFA games to look forward to in the day. So it’s honestly just improved my overall quality of life.”
For others, the game has changed their relationship with the school. For senior Tarik Syed, a relatively new player, EA Sports FC has given him a reason to stay at school even after the school day ends.
“I always pop into the senior lounge to see if there’s space for people. I have definitely been staying after school later just to play with people. Before, I would have never done that,” Syed said.
The game has also created unexpected academic benefits for some seniors. For Kraus, having it in the senior lounge has pushed him to be more productive at home, freeing up his free periods to play instead of doing homework.
The senior lounge quickly becomes an integral part of the St. Mark’s experience as every graduating class spends time there throughout their senior year. This year the Class of 2026 has come together through a shared love for the game of EA Sports FC and the lessons and teamwork that can be learned from it.
As the year has gone on, the crowd around the Xbox has only grown with each passing week. For the class going through the stress and uncertainty of college applications, those moments in the senior lounge offer uncomplicated fun and connection, giving some a new reason to look forward to walking onto campus each morning.