Is Championship Soccer on Steam?

No. Championship Soccer is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.

What platforms is Championship Soccer on?

Championship Soccer is available on Atari 2600.

When did Championship Soccer release?

Championship Soccer was first released on December 31, 1980.

Championship Soccer

Dec 31, 1980SportAtari 2600

Championship Soccer — frequently asked questions

Is Championship Soccer on Steam?: No. Championship Soccer is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
What platforms is Championship Soccer on?: Championship Soccer is available on Atari 2600.
When did Championship Soccer release?: Championship Soccer was first released on December 31, 1980.

About Championship Soccer

Championship Soccer is a soccer game where each team has one forward, two backs and a goalie. The forward and backs always run in formation. You only control the goalie when he has the ball, otherwise he is computer controlled.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Themes: Action, Non-fiction

Details via IGDB.

Collector value & authenticity

Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06

Loose

Complete

$24

Sealed

$185

Label variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
Championship Soccer	$5	$15	$142
Soccer	$10	—	—

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Atari	Text	CX2616	Common+
North America Atari	Picture	CX2616	Common+
North America Sears	Text	49-75155	Scarce
North America Unknown	Taiwan Cooper	—	—
Europe Unknown	Pet Boat	—	—

Also released in South America by Polyvox, Play Time.

Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1981
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1 - 2
Authenticity: Low

Not in Atari 50 — other compilations and plug-and-plays are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Atari 2600 prices, all games & how to spot a fake

Atari's Pelé-endorsed soccer game, sold under three names and cheap under all of them.

Pelé's Soccer is a 2600-only sports game developed and published by Atari, Inc. in 1981, with Steve Wright credited as designer. It was originally released as Championship Soccer, and it uses that name in modern compilations for trademark reasons. Endorsed by Pelé, it handles ball control and goalkeeping with the joystick.

Sears sold the same game as Soccer.

How it was made

Designed by Steve Wright and released by Atari in February 1981, with a PAL release the same quarter. Sears sold it as Soccer.

What the press said at the time

“Pele's Soccer may not look much like the real sport, but this cartridge definitely captures the spirit of the game.”
— Electronic Games, July 1982

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

First $9.95 discount. In September/October 1982 the Atari Club's members-only price list cut this, one of Atari's oldest titles, to $9.95.
1981 dealer price. Atari's confidential retailer price list for January 1 to June 1, 1981 lists Pelé's Championship Soccer (CX2616) in its premium tier: dealers paid $18.50 against a suggested retail price of $31.95. The same list groups it among the "cartridge titles introduced in 1980".
1982 Arkie Award. Atari's Championship Soccer took an honorable mention for Best Sports Game in the 1982 Arkie Awards.

Before you buy

Low risk; this is a common Atari cart. Three labels are priced: Pelé's Soccer, Championship Soccer and the Sears Soccer cart. They are the same game, and all are inexpensive loose. Sealed copies of Pelé's Soccer and Championship Soccer cost far more than loose or boxed ones, so check shrink-wrap and box condition carefully if you are paying for one. Make sure the listing title matches the label in the photos.