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.”
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.
National football associations usher in a new era for competitive gaming
Miyamoto Tsuneyasu, president of the Japan Football Association, affirmed that eFootball has received love from players around the world for many years. He said that eFootball had gained popularity in Japan, establishing itself as an integral platform for family football. Tsuneyasu disclosed that the JFA would hold a selection tournament where Japanese players would be determined.
Leandro Petersen, chief commercial & marketing officer at Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, claimed that eFootball remained popular in Argentina as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Petersen said the country’s ultimate goal was to produce a FIFAe World Champion. He added that eFootball had become the best communication tool for football fans.
Francois Vasseur, the marketing director at Fédération Française de Football, expressed his pride in France’s participation in this year’s FIFAe World Cup. He stated that the tournament would help promote the French national team and the FFF (French Football Federation) in a fast-growing eSports environment. In this regard, Vasseur said the FFF was pleased with the momentum initiated by FIFAe and Konami to develop global competitions on eFootball.
Sema Tuğçe Dikici, the marketing director at Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu, asserted that eFootball had captured the hearts of soccer fans across Türkiye. He also mentioned that the Turkish Football Federation recognized the game’s powerful role in bringing supporters and players together. Dikici said that the TFF was committed to supporting the upcoming FIFAe World Cup as it offered an opportunity to strengthen global connections as countries collaborated through mutual respect. The TFF’s marketing director expressed his excitement to be part of this journey as players received invaluable recognition and support.
Cryptopolitan Academy: FREE Web3 Resume Cheat Sheet - Download Now