EA stirs up World Cup tensions

Ahead of England’s World Cup opener against the USA this Saturday, official tournament partner EA is offering fans the chance to taunt our American opponents directly via a rather bizarre marketing scheme.

England followers are invited to send their ‘rallying cries’ (EA’s codename for ‘messages of abuse’) via Twitter to @BallstotheYanks. These will then be laser-printed onto footballs and shot out of a billboard on LA’s Universal City Walk for USA fans to keep.

In the interests of fairness, Americans can send their own messages of support to @BallstotheBrits, with those appearing on a UK billboard at Leicester Square this Friday night between 7pm-10pm.

Spot prizes, such as copies of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, will also be handed out to those who attend the official London event.