The World Cup Matters to Electronic Arts’ Money-Maker

Euphoria surrounding the global soccer spectacle is expected to help a feature in the videogame company’s sports franchises top $1 billion in annual revenue

The World Cup will settle national bragging rights in the world’s most popular sport for the next four years.

In the world of digital sports, it is also helping to deliver bragging rights for a less heralded accomplishment: a videogame feature topping $1 billion in annual revenue not from the sale of $60 games themselves but of virtual goods peddled during gameplay.

The...