The cooperation between Konami and the FIFA The partnership is entering its next phase. The Japanese publisher announced the extension of its partnership with FIFA to broadcast the FIFAe World Cups 2025 and 2026. eFootball to host the event. After last year's record success, the tournament is now set to become even bigger.
Impressive figures from the FIFAe World Cup 2024
The FIFAe World Cup 2024 with eFootball This has demonstrated the potential of combining the FIFA license with Konami's football simulation. More than 14 million players worldwide participated in the online qualifiers – a remarkable number that clearly underlines the community's interest.
The final rounds in particular attracted a lot of attention. The console version reached over 400.000 concurrent viewers at times, setting a new record for eFootball esports events. Sixteen nations participated in the mobile edition and eighteen in the console edition.
More nations, more players
Konami is planning a significant expansion for the FIFAe World Cup 2025, which will take place in Saudi Arabia in December. The number of participating nations is expected to increase, and thanks to the collaboration with FIFPRO, more players and clubs will be available.
The multi-month, open qualification process, with local and regional activities, aims to give more FIFA member associations the chance to qualify for the tournament. This opening up could be crucial in building a sustainable global esports ecosystem around eFootball.
The partnership was announced during the eFootball World Festival in Tokyo, which also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the eFootball series. Details regarding registration and schedules will be published soon on the official eFootball website and FIFA.GG.
It will be interesting to see if eFootball Whether this high-profile partnership will finally bring about a breakthrough in competitive eSports – or whether the competition is too established.
