FIFA signs an esports deal with former rival Konami

Konami announced that it was partnering with FIFA in a new deal signed on Oct. 10 to advance global Esports development. Two FIFAe World Cup tournaments, featuring the title ‘eFootball’ for console and mobile platforms, will be held later this year as part of the initiative.   

The Japanese video game developer claimed that the collaboration’s goal was to ‘elevate’ the excitement of the world’s football community through eSports. The FIFAe World Cup in-game qualifiers for both mobile and console qualifiers will kick off on Oct. 10. The winners from each platform will be crowned ‘FIFAe World Champion’ in their respective category. Players participating in the event will need to sign up for an account on FIFA.GG and follow the instructions.

FIFA and Konami bury the hatchet and join forces for eSports

Konami confirmed that 18 countries and regions were chosen to take part in the FIFAe World Cup finals based on past performances and player pools. All players will get the opportunity to experience the event’s thrill with eFootball’s latest version. 

The countries and regions selected for the inaugural tournament include Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey.

Koji Kobayashi, Senior Executive Officer at Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd, disclosed that video game developers face challenges in developing eSports and football simulations. He expressed his gratitude to FIFA for allowing the collaboration that contributed to eFootball promotion.

“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.”

– Koji Kobayashi

Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer at FIFA, said that the partnership with Konami aligned with FIFA’s mission to promote football worldwide. He added that the FIFAe competitions provided an inclusive platform where players from diverse backgrounds could showcase their skills.