eFootball will soon be taking centre stage with a new esports partnership, focusing on the FIFAe World Cup.
Konami and FIFA have joined forces to elevate the world of esports with the announcement of the FIFAe World Cup, featuring eFootball.
As you may expect from a joining of forces, this exciting collaboration aims to unite the global football community through two dedicated competitions – one on console (PS4 and PS5) and one on mobile – each culminating in the crowning of a FIFAe World Champion.
A Global Stage for eFootball
Qualifying rounds for the FIFAe World Cup kick off today, inviting players from around the world to represent their nations in this prestigious esports event.
With a focus on inclusivity and global engagement, this initiative seeks to connect with the entire eFootball community and provide a platform for players to showcase their skills on a world stage.
Competition schedule
The competition in its entirety will be broken down into three main segments.
- 10th – 20th October will see the three-part in-game qualifiers take place.
- 28th October – 3rd November will follow for the various National Nomination Phases in the 18 competing countries.
- Lastly, there will be the Final round of ‘FIFAe World Cup 2024’, held offline towards the end of 2024.
18 Nations Invited to Compete
In its inaugural year, the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball will feature 18 nations selected based on player base and past competitive performance. These include football powerhouses like Argentina, Brazil, England, France, and Spain, as well as rising esports nations like India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The full list? Yeah, as follows…
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- England
- France
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Korea Republic
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- Thailand
- Türkiye
A Worldwide Commitment to Esports
Pretty much anyone who is anyone seems to be on board with this one, with Konami and a host of global representatives expressing their delight at the partnership.
Koji Kobayashi, Senior Executive Officer, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. – “At KONAMI, we have continued to take on challenges in the development of football simulation and esports. We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the promotion of eFootball™ in a new dimension through this collaboration with FIFAe. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to FIFA for providing us with this opportunity. We can’t wait for the FIFAe World Cup™ to begin. We look forward to sharing the enthusiasm, excitement, and joy of our players around the world through the FIFAe World Cup™”.
Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer at FIFA – “We are incredibly excited to join forces with KONAMI. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills. We truly believe in an inclusive ecosystem which allows different communities to be part of the FIFAe competitions”.
Comment from the representative of Japan Football Association (Miyamoto Tsuneyasu, President, Japan Football Association) – “eFootball™ has been loved by people all over the world for many years, and it has also gained a firm following in Japan, establishing itself as an essential platform for the football family. The newly launched “FIFAe World Cup™” featuring “eFootball™” will become the pinnacle of the e-football players’ dreams, The JFA will hold a selection tournament to determine the Japanese players who will compete in the “FIFAe World Cup™” and will support the e-football Japan national team players so that they aim to reach the top of the world, just like the other Japanese national teams”.
Comment from the representative of Argentine Football Association (Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Asociación del Fútbol Argentino) – “eFootball™ celebrating the 30th anniversary is a very popular game in our country and has become one of the best communication tools for soccer fans. Participating in the new FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ will be the ultimate goal for all eFootball™ players in our country. We will do our utmost to support this FIFAe World Cup™ in order to produce a FIFAe World Champion from our country”.
Comment from the representative of French Football Federation (Francois Vasseur, Marketing Director, Fédération Française de Football) – We are proud to announce France’s participation in the FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™. This unique competition, held on both console and mobile, will allow us to promote the FFF and the French national team in a rapidly growing esports environment. In this regard, the FFF is pleased with the momentum initiated by KONAMI and FIFAe to develop international competitions on eFootball™”.
Comment from the representative of Turkish Football Federation – As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of eFootball™, a game that has captured the hearts of football fans across our nation, we recognize its powerful role in uniting players and supporters alike. The upcoming FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™, offers an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration among countries and a chance to strengthen our global connections. This tournament represents more than just competition; it’s a platform for fostering international friendships and mutual respect through the love of the game. We are fully committed to supporting this event and striving to see our nation crowned as the FIFAe World Champions.
A Legacy of Football Gaming
We don’t need to tell you that KONAMI has been a pioneer in football gaming since 1995, with a rich history of developing and publishing beloved titles – we look back fondly on the Pro Evolution Soccer series. This collaboration with FIFA marks a new chapter in KONAMI’s commitment to esports and its dedication to providing engaging and competitive experiences for football fans around the globe.
The FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball is set to be a landmark event in the world of esports. But will you be repping? Let us know in the comments.