Electronic Arts has this week announced that the latest version of the FIFA Soccer franchise will allow up to ten players to face one another online simultaneously, reports Boomtown. The Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 versions, it has been confirmed, have been programmed to support up to five players per side in online match-ups.

The ability forms part of the game's "Be A Pro: Online Team Play" option. This addition lets gamers take control of individual footballers while the A.I. takes care of the other members of the team - there's even the chance to mix and match between a selection of sportsmen throughout the 90 minutes.

"At EA Sports our dream is to create a full 11 versus 11 online gameplay experience in which each user will have a set position during the match and train specifically for that position," said Joe Booth, producer of FIFA Soccer 08. "Be A Pro is the first step in this direction, and now, with the ability to deliver five versus five online gameplay as free downloadable content, we are moving even closer towards the realization of this dream."

EA is stressing that Be a Pro mode will force players to react more like real footballers, helping them to experience the whole range of emotions associated with such a competitive sport.

Pity we won't be getting to experience their lofty £100,000 per week wages as well though, eh?