For years, the FIFAe World Cup was the FIFA eSports World Cup. After the separation of the world governing body and EA SPORTS, the brand is being revitalized with another game – also because a separate product still needs time?
“Groundbreaking” is the partnership that the world soccer association announced on Sunday at the Rocket League Major in London: FIFAe goes Rocket League. The former FIFA eSports World Cup will now become a Rocket League World Cup. FIFA wants to “expand” its national team competitions and has deliberately chosen Rocket League, “one of the most popular eSports titles”.
The beginning of a “new era”, according to FIFA’s Director of eFootball and Gaming Christian Volk: “This milestone partnership highlights our commitment to the development of our soccer eSports system.” FIFA is also continuing its efforts to “provide the biggest stage for all communities” to celebrate their eSports. A laudable motive, of course. But are these really the world governing body’s only motives?
EAFC competitor on hold
Fact is: Two years have passed since EA SPORTS and FIFA announced that they were ending their decades-long partnership in the FIFA game series. The developer launched a new era of in-house soccer simulation with FC 24, while the world soccer association announced nothing less than the “best game available for players and soccer fans” to compete with the top dog.
However, there is still no sign of the release planned for 2024. The president of the association, Gianni Infantino, recently underlined his original superlative. However, after the rumors about a collaboration with sports games expert 2K were refuted by eSport, the question of the developer of FIFA’s own game does not even seem to have been clarified – at least publicly. A competition in the new game under the umbrella of the previously soccer-exclusive FIFAe World Cup? Not in sight for a long time yet
The assumption that the association has therefore been keeping an eye on the most football-like game in order not to leave its own eSports circuit completely fallow is not out of the air. Especially as EA SPORTS is currently in the final preparations for the FC Pro World Championship, the successor to the FIFAe World Cup. The final round of the FC 24 World Cup will be held in Berlin from July 10 to 13, and the groups for the first world championship after the FIFA separation have already been drawn
FIFA leaves questions unanswered – EWC framework officially confirmed
The plans for the new FIFAe World Cup in Rocket League are far from concrete, although it is also scheduled to take place in 2024. It is known that a total of 16 national teams will take part in the World Cup and that they will be selected based on their representation in previous majors. However, the scheduling, tournament format, prize money etc. are still up in the air.
The situation is different for the Esports World Cup, which will also include a Rocket League competition. The exact framework of the tournament in Riyadh was also announced during the Major in London: From August 22-25, 16 invited teams – two from each of the seven regions and two wildcard winners – will compete in four groups for a place in the playoff stage. A single elimination will decide who will take the unofficial World Cup crown and secure the majority of the 500,000 US dollar prize pool
