KONAMI and FIFA have just teamed up for what’s shaping up to be a massive moment in esports—and if you’re into football or gaming (or both!), this is something you won’t want to miss.
Together, they’re launching not one but two FIFAe World Cups™, where players from around the world can represent their countries in eFootball™, whether they’re on mobile or console.
It’s the latest move to bring football fans even closer to the game they love through the world of competitive gaming.
Starting on Thursday, October 10, the global qualifying rounds will officially kick off. The best part? There are two separate competitions—one for mobile players and another for console warriors.
Each tournament will crown its own FIFAe World Champion, and if you’re an eFootball™ player, you can jump right in.
Ever dreamed of representing your country on a virtual pitch? This is your shot. Just make sure you’ve got the latest version of the game, and get ready to compete with the best from around the globe.
This year’s competition will see 18 nations joining the fight for virtual football glory. From Argentina to Türkiye, each country will send its best e-football players to compete.
It’s a big deal, especially since the selected countries are based on factors like the size of their player base and past performances in eFootball™ tournaments. So, if you’re in one of these countries and you’re ready to show your stuff, now’s the time.
Here’s the full list of countries gearing up for the FIFAe World Cup™:
Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, and Türkiye.
Koji Kobayashi, Senior Executive Officer at Konami, is buzzing with excitement about the partnership with FIFA. “At KONAMI, we have continued to take on challenges in the development of football simulation and esports.
We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the promotion of eFootball™ in a new dimension through this collaboration with FIFAe.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to FIFA for providing us with this opportunity. 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™”. said Kobayashi. It’s clear KONAMI is fired up about this new chapter for eFootball™, and so are the players.”
FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai, shared the enthusiasm, calling the partnership a perfect fit for their mission to bring football—and now esports—to a global audience. “We are incredibly excited to join forces with KONAMI.
This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills.
We truly believe in an inclusive ecosystem which allows different communities to be part of the FIFAe competitions”. Gai said.
It’s not just KONAMI and FIFA who are hyped for this event. Football associations from all over the world are getting involved, too.
The Japan Football Association (JFA), for example, sees the FIFAe World Cup™ as the ultimate dream for their e-football players.
JFA President Miyamoto Tsuneyasu said, “eFootball™ celebrating the 30th anniversary is a very popular game in our country and has become one of the best communication tools for soccer fans.
Participating in the new FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ will be the ultimate goal for all eFootball™ players in our country.
We will do our utmost to support this FIFAe World Cup™ in order to produce a FIFAe World Champion from our country”.
Argentina’s football association is just as pumped. Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at AFA, says that eFootball™ is already a huge hit in the country, and now they’re ready to take things to the next level.
“We’re going all in to support our players and hopefully crown a FIFAe World Champion from Argentina,” Petersen said.
France is getting in on the action too. Francois Vasseur, Marketing Director at the French Football Federation, sees this as a great chance to shine a light on the national team while also making their mark in the fast-growing world of esports.
We are proud to announce France’s participation in the FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™. This unique competition, held on both console and mobile, will allow us to promote the FFF and the French national team in a rapidly growing esports environment.
In this regard, the FFF is pleased with the momentum initiated by KONAMI and FIFAe to develop international competitions on eFootball™”. Vasseur noted.
More Than Just a Tournament—It’s About Connection
While the competition is definitely fierce, the FIFAe World Cup™ is also about bringing people together.
Türkiye’s football association sees this as more than just a contest—it’s a chance to build international connections and foster friendships.
Sema Tuğçe Dikici, Marketing Director at the Turkish Football Federation, said, “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of eFootball™, a game that has captured the hearts of football fans across our nation, we recognise its powerful role in uniting players and supporters alike.
The upcoming FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™, offers an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration among countries and a chance to strengthen our global connections.
This tournament represents more than just competition; it’s a platform for fostering international friendships and mutual respect through the love of the game.
We are fully committed to supporting this event and striving to see our nation crowned as the FIFAe World Champions.
The support and recognition that FIFAe provides to eFootball™ players are invaluable, and we are excited to be a part of this journey”.
KONAMI has been in the football gaming business since the mid-90s, and they’re no strangers to hosting big tournaments.
Over the years, they’ve pushed to merge real-world football with esports, like the eFootball™ Championship they hosted in 2024 with European clubs. And now, with the FIFAe World Cup™, they’re taking that ambition to a global scale.
If you’re keen to dive into the details, head over to FIFA.GG or check out the Konami website.
Whether you’re a seasoned eFootball™ player or just love the idea of representing your country on a virtual pitch, this tournament is your shot to make a name for yourself—and maybe even take home the title of FIFAe World Champion.