What seemed unthinkable two years ago is now official: FIFA and Konami are joining forces in eSport. The first major eFootball event is to take place this year – without German participation.
“Take on the World” is the motto under which Konami announced on Thursday what seemed utopian just a few years ago: the Japanese developer and FIFA have entered into an eSports partnership in the field of eFootball. The football simulation is to expand the FIFAe portfolio and will see the first major event in collaboration with the world football association as early as 2024.
According to a Konami press release, the aim of the collaboration is to “further enhance the enjoyment of the global football community through eSports”. It is also about connecting with its own players: “By enabling players to represent their nations through dedicated competitions, this initiative will take the connection with the community to a new level,” the Japanese company continues.
What is really behind the partnership?
However, if you take a closer look, there are also less embellished arguments for the collaboration. For example, the untapped field of soccer simulations at the world governing body. Since its separation from EA SPORTS in 2023, FIFA’s eSports line-up has lacked a football game in the traditional sense – also because the game developed in-house, which was announced by Gianni Infantino with great fanfare, is still a long time coming.
As a result, the Zurich-based association had recently reoriented itself somewhat and expanded its own eSports horizons beyond the boundaries of the traditional football pitch. Rocket League and Sports Interactive’s Football Manager found their way to FIFA. In FM, the first FIFAe World Cup even took place in Liverpool. While Germany missed out on the title in the final against Indonesia, eFootball was also given a stage for the first time. A cup in the mobile version was on the program.
Konami eSports back on the big stage?
eSports in eFootball was also largely dormant. After eSport exclusively reported at the end of 2023 that Konami would discontinue the eFootball Pro Championship, a restart did take place. However, the established structures and security of the canceled league could not be replaced by the new club events. There had already been criticism of the Konami-organized world championships.
FeWC in eFootball: Germany left out
Will everything be better now in the form of a FIFAe World Cup in eFootball? Definitely not for local players. Because Germany is missing from the list of approved countries that are allowed to participate in the World Cup qualifiers that have already started. Only England, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands are listed from Europe. The field of participants, which comprises a total of 18 teams, is rounded off by nations from North and South America, Asia and Africa.
Both the PlayStation and mobile versions will be played at the eFootball World Cup 2.0. While only single players will be competing on smartphones, both a single world champion and the best duo will be crowned on Sony’s console. Konami did not reveal when exactly the final event will take place or how much prize money will be up for grabs in the announcement of the competition. However, it is assumed that the final round will take place in November. According to the schedule, all nations should announce their participants by the 3rd of the month.
