Fans of soccer gaming will have two opportunities to see the best in the world compete later this year thanks to a partnership announced this week between Konami and FIFA.
FIFAe World Cup is Coming
According to the announcement, Konami Digital Entertainment is collaborating with FIFA to hold a pair of FIFAe World Cup events later this year. The events will feature eFootball, Konami’s signature soccer esports software, and will take place using both mobile and console versions.
The objective of this collaboration is to further “boost the joy of the global football community through esports.” By allowing players to represent their nations through dedicated competitions, this initiative will take the connection with the community to a new level.
Qualifiers Happening Now
Competitions to qualify for participation in the FIFAe World Cup events began on October 10 and will continue through October 17. There will be one World Cup for console players and a second for those who play on mobile devices. In the inaugural year of this collaboration, 18 nations have been invited to be represented at the final events.
Nations are selected based on different factors such as player base and previous performances of competitors from the respective countries. Everyone who plays eFootball is welcome to engage. Here are the participating member associations of the inaugural FIFAe World Cup:
Countries Entering Inaguration:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- England
- France
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- The Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- Thailand
- Türkiye
Konami Looks to the Future
Koji Kobayashi, the Senior Executive Officer of Konami Digital Entertainment, said his company has worked hard to overcome the challenges of developing top-tier soccer simulations and expanding their presence in esports. “We’re very pleased to be able to contribute to the promotion of eFootball in a new dimension through this collaboration with FIFAe,” he said.
“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 worldwide through the FIFAe World Cup.”
FIFA Excited by Possibilities
Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer at FIFA, said he and the rest of FIFA’s leadership are excited by the possibilities of this joint venture with Konami. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills,” he said. “We truly believe in an inclusive ecosystem which allows different communities to be part of the FIFAe competitions.”
Members Countries Take Esports Seriously
Miyamoto Tsuneyasu, President of the Japan Football Association, said his esports has grown in popularity in his country, holding its own selection tournament to determine who will represent the nation. “The JFA 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,” he said.
Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer for Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, said his country is also doing what it can to secure a FIFAe World Cup victory. “Participating in the new FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball will be the ultimate goal for all eFootball players in our country,” he said. “We will do our utmost to support this FIFAe World Cup™ to produce a FIFAe World Champion from our country”
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