Among the innovations for this edition of the series was the ability to play over consecutive seasons, giving the possibility of competing for promotion or relegation and qualification for European Cup competition.[6] The US Major League Soccer was officially licensed for the first time, and was used as a subtitle for the North American release.
Commentary in the UK English release is provided by BBC television commentators John Motson and Mark Lawrenson. The commentary was recorded in a London studio, however for the first time in the series Motson visited the games developers in Vancouver, Canada to provide insights into the intricacies of the real-life game.[7] The US English release features commentary from Phil Schoen and women's footballer Julie Foudy.[8] Localised commentary exists for the German, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Japanese, Greek and Brazilian Portuguese releases.[9]
The game's theme music was Robbie Williams' "It's Only Us".[10] As part of the agreement to license the track EA Sports included Port Vale, the club Robbie Williams supports, in the game, despite only being in the third tier of the English football league system, which wasn't included as part of this game.
The game was met with positive reception, with the exception of the Game Boy Color version, which currently has a score of 47% on GameRankings;[11] the site also gave the PlayStation version 87%,[13] and the PC version 85%.[12] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported for release under the name FIFA 2000: Europa League Soccer (FIFA2000 ヨーロッパリーグ・サッカー, FIFA 2000 Yōropa Rīgu Sakkā) on 30 March 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[37]
PlayStation Max awarded a gold rating to the PlayStation version, praising its looks, sound and longevity, although they did criticise the ease with which it was possible to score goals.[38]Official UK PlayStation Magazine went further with their criticism of the gameplay, believing the passing to be "too precise" and it being unrealistically easy to beat defenders. They did praise the level of detail in the game's graphics and the commentary and awarded the game a score of 7/10.[39]
In one GamePro review, The Freshman said of the PlayStation version, "EA Sports knows football, both American and otherwise. Soccer fans would have to go a long way to find a better soccer sim on the PlayStation. Lace up those cleats and go for the goal!"[40][b] Air Hendrix said of the same PlayStation version, "If you're into soccer, FIFA ranks as an automatic purchase. Plus, sports fans in general will find that–despite the game's minor flaws–FIFA's polished performance makes for exciting, rewarding fun that'll glue you to the screen."[41][c] Nash Werner said that the PC version "has what I've always wanted: good single-player AI and the MLS. But players that look like cartoons, the absence of key offensive plays and jukes, and limited MLS playability, offset these additions. In the end, I like FIFA 99 better."[42][d]
^In GameFan's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 91, and the other 93.
^GamePro gave the PlayStation version three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and overall fun factor, and 5/5 for sound in one review.
^GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 5/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 4.5/5 scores for sound and overall fun factor in another review.
^GamePro gave the PC version two 4/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.
^FIFA 2000: Major League Soccer Playstation Back Cover (SLUS-00994 – 014633140262)
^"ELECTRONIC ARTS SHIPS FIFA 2000: MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER". Electronic Arts. 26 October 1999. Depending on the territory in which the game is purchased, the game contains localized speech and text for the following nine languages/dialects: UK English, US English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Greek and Brazilian Portuguese (PC only).
^ abBhatt, Andy (2 November 1999). "FIFA 2000 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^Abner, William (3 November 1999). "FIFA 2000". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^Sloan, Colin (29 October 1999). "FIFA 2000 Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
^Stahl, Ben (2 November 1999). "FIFA 2000 Review (PS)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
^Clarke, Dan (March 2000). "FIFA 2000". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 104. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^"Game over"(PDF). Edge. No. 94. Future Publishing. February 2001. pp. 71–81. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2021.