Electronic Arts (EA) has just announced that U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey will grace the cover of FIFA 15, alongside Barcelona player Lionel Messi.

"Clint Dempsey is a world class athlete that embodies the heart and soul of the sport," said EA spokesperson Stuart Lang, in a press release last Saturday. "He showed his lethal combination of grace and toughness at the World Cup, and plays with enormous heart and determination on the pitch. He is the perfect ambassador for FIFA 15, a game that's all about bringing the emotion and intensity of the sport to life."

Dempsey led the U.S. Men's National Team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup that was hosted in Brazil. The United States lost to Belgium in the Round of 16, despite demonstrating a remarkable performance. Last week, the New York Times reported that America's FIFA rankings slipped, dropping two places to number 15.

Ultimately, it was Germany that snatched the World Cup victory, after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the Final. Even so, World Cup viewership has seen an unprecedented rise amongst U.S. audiences this year. Last week, Dempsey expressed enthusiasm for EA's decision to place his likeness on the cover for the upcoming game.

"It's an amazing opportunity in my career to be on the cover for FIFA 15, a game that has played a big role in growing the popularity of the sport in America," Dempsey commented. "To join the class of other elite athletes who have appeared on previous covers is very humbling and I am extremely grateful for this honor."

FIFA 15 will start hitting shelves on Sept. 26, and will be available to players on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles. EA is also releasing a similar version for the PC. Here is a list of software and hardware specifications needed to run the Microsoft Windows version of the game.

FIFA 15 Gameplay Features - Emotion and Intensity

FIFA 15 - Official E3 Gameplay Trailer