As eSport has exclusively learned, the first World Cup in EA SPORTS FC 24 will not take place in Saudi Arabia, but in Europe. The publisher has now confirmed this
The last joint FIFA and EA SPORTS World Cup for the time being took place in Saudi Arabia in 2023. A first, as was the setting in which the tournament series took place, as the FIFAe Finals were part of Gamers8.
Although the publisher and the world soccer association parted ways in the summer, it was speculated that the new “FC Pro World Championship” would be held in the desert state again. After all, Saudi Arabia is organizing the 2024 Esports World Cup with various disciplines. However, the world championship in FC 24 will not be part of this, as eSport exclusively learned and has since been officially confirmed. Instead, the tournament will take place in Europe. Where exactly, however, has not yet been revealed
The same applies to the date. Only summer 2024 is mentioned in this regard – however, it can be assumed that the tournament will conclude the competitive season. Accordingly, the eEuro finals would take place first – as would the final round of the eChampions League in London. At least the latter is scheduled to take place at a specific time: the Henkelpott will be awarded on May 29. No date has yet been announced for the European Championship, which Germany will host both virtually and analogously.
Nevertheless, EA SPORTS will play a role with its soccer simulation at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. In addition to the FC Pro World Championship, there will also be a tournament there, as the publisher announced in a press release. Players can qualify via open FC 24 competitions at DreamHack in Dallas and Sweden.
The best-placed players in the DreamHack tournaments “will qualify for the Esports World Cup in August together with the invited professional players”, explains EA SPORTS. Further details on the competitions will be announced shortly by the ESL FACEIT Group. However, the publisher clarified that the events at DreamHack and in Saudi Arabia “will have no impact on the FC Pro World Championship this summer and next season” and “will take place entirely outside of the EA FC professional ecosystem.”
No more tournament series?
One question still needs to be clarified regarding the FC Pro World Championship. Until now, the FIFAe Finals were divided into three tournaments. The individual competition and the eNations and eClub World Cup.
A structure that EA SPORTS will not retain after the separation from FIFA. According to eSports information, the decisive factor is the lack of a partnership with the world soccer association to hold these events with the new game this season.
Can a German win the inaugural FC Pro World Championship title? Only Denmark’s Anders Vejrgang from RBLZ Gaming qualified via the FC Pro Open. The only German, Umut Gültekin, was eliminated in the quarter-finals. He would have had to survive this round to get a World Championship ticket. However, there is still a way forward for him and other German players. The champions and runners-up of the Grand Final from the Virtual Bundesliga are allowed to take part in the competition
