2022 has been a big year for LEGO. The building-block giant celebrated its 90th anniversary, marking the milestone with a deep dive into its vaults to bring back some of the most iconic construction sets from an impressive nine decades of play.
This party is far from over! The LEGO Ideas division has just released its final product of the year: 21337 Table Football. Measuring 6-inches high and 16-inches wide, this retro-inspired building set takes one of the most recognizable table-top titles in the world and shrinks it down to a compact 2,339-piece game on the go!
Fan builder Donát Fehérvári initially submitted a digital design of the project to the LEGO Ideas platform as part of the special We Love Sports contest last summer. It was announced the grand-prize winner in June during LEGO Con 2021. The finished set, spearheaded by LEGO designer Antica Bracanov, uses minifigures as the players within the fully functional game and features everything from ball returns to coloured score counters for a wholly authentic experience that fans are sure to appreciate. In total, some 300 personnel were brought in to contribute to the testing and development of the set, resulting in a final product that is said to remain true to the spirit of the game.
Traditional table football games — which may also be referred to as Table Soccer, Taca Taca, Metagol, or Foosball — feature eight rows of players and 11 players per side. LEGO has whittled this down to just five athletes each, and therein lies one of the best features of the set.
While some fans may scoff at the downsized design, LEGO is compensating by offering builders an impressive 22 different minfigures that can also be built alongside the game. What this means is that, despite the reduced five-on-five layout, you can still have a proper 11-person Futebol squad. In addition, the set features one of the most diverse line-ups of minifigures ever produced. There are plenty of different skin tones, hairstyles, and facial features to choose from – including the first-ever LEGO minifigures to feature hearing aids and Vitiligo. Thus, each player on the team can now be just as unique and special as the builders behind them! With a total of 43 different wigs, 44 different heads, multiple torsos, and different shades of hands included in the box, the customization options available to fans is nearly endless!.
There’s more: the new Table Football set features a wealth of additional extras. The non-playing minifigures can be placed in the buildable grandstand and given flags to create a fan-tastic atmosphere. The grandstand also features a detachable compartment that can be used to safely store extra pieces not in use. Designed for fun competitive play, the table also features two rods for each team, two foosballs and even a miniature trophy for the winning team to take home.
In an effort to help launch this set, LEGO employed the help of prolific Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and all-star Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. What did these two iconic soccer stars have to say about the new Table Football set?
Thierry Henry says, “Throughout my career I’ve played football everywhere you can imagine — from my garden to stadiums across the world and now in a LEGO Ideas Table Football set! LEGO play is all about harnessing the unifying spirit of sport to rebuild the game for fans everywhere. I am very excited to see the new LEGO set bring people together across the world as they master the table football game in brick form.”
Adds Marcus Rashford, “I love building with LEGO bricks – but to now build and play football against Thierry Henry in LEGO form is amazing! Football brings fans together and it is great to see that the LEGO Ideas Table Football set does the same.”
Clearly, the all-star athletes are just as excited for this new set as the fans!
And really, who can blame them? It is, after all, a truly distinctive amalgamation of two of the world’s most beloved pastimes. And, while it may not be for everyone given its small size and rather impressive price, there is little denying that it will make a unique addition to any collection.
Recommended for adult builders ages 18 and up, the new LEGO Ideas Table Football set is available right now and priced at $249.99 USD.
Are you ready to focus like a champion and lead your team to victory?
Then take to the pitch and get ready to show the world what you’re made of!
