eFootball_FIFAe_Announcement-KV

Konami Digital Entertainment (KONAMI) is pleased to announce that it will continue its partnership with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to promote the development of football esports worldwide through FIFAe competitions in 2025 and 2026. The two FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ on mobile and on console will be held again this and next year and the number of participating nations is anticipated to increase with a worldwide open qualification process.

The FIFAe World Cup 2024™ featuring eFootball™ on mobile and console was held last December with more than 14 million players from around the world participating online in the lead up, representing 16 nations in the mobile edition and 18 nations in the console edition. The final competitions were streamed online to the entire world, and the number of max. concurrent viewers for the console edition reached over 400,000^*1, the highest number for an esports event held on eFootball™.

In order to further expand the excitement of the global football community through esports, the “eFootball World Festival in Tokyo” event was held on Monday, July 21 and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the eFootball™ series. At the stage event, we announced the extension of the partnership agreement between FIFA and KONAMI for the development of esports including the FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ in 2025 and 2026. This year’s FIFAe World Cup 2025™ will expand the number of nations. In addition, with the cooperation of FIFPRO, the number of players available for the competitions will increase.

The FIFAe World Cup 2025™ featuring eFootball™ on mobile and console will be held in Saudi Arabia this December as part of the FIFAe Finals 2025. With the aim of continuing to make football esports even more accessible, the two FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ on mobile and console will feature an open qualification period lasting several months with local and regional activations. This year’s qualification process will allow more FIFA Member Associations to compete for a place at the event, building the foundation for a truly global and sustainable ecosystem. Players can get more detailed information from the eFootball™ official website and FIFA.GG. In addition, with the cooperation of FIFPRO, the number of clubs and players available for the competition will increase.

As in the previous tournament, the Japanese representatives will be selected through the “JFA eJapan National Soccer Team Selection Tournament 2025” organized by the Japan Football Association (JFA). Details of the selection tournament will be announced on the JFA official website JFA.jp as soon as they are decided.

Detailed schedules and entry procedures will be announced on the eFootball™ official website and FIFA.GG as soon as they are finalized.You can also watch the stage event of the “eFootball World Festival in Tokyo” on the “eFootball™ Channel” on YouTube.

eFootball™ Series 30th Anniversary Special Event：https://youtube.com/live/jXADFc15B14?feature=share　

Konami Digital Entertainment is committed to deliver excitement and enthusiasm to even more football fans and the football community through its ongoing collaboration with FIFAe.

1 Aggregate number of concurrent viewers across all channels including FIFAe official YouTube.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 10: Lautaro Federico Raris (lautaroraris) of Team Argentina celebrates against Team Japan during the Group B Round 7 match on Day 2 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 10: Lautaro Federico Raris (lautaroraris) of Team Argentina celebrates against Team Japan during the Group B Round 7 match on Day 2 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 12: Rizky Faidan (BINONGBOYS) of Team Indonesia celebrates against Team Brazil during the Final match on Day 4 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 12, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 12: Rizky Faidan (BINONGBOYS) of Team Indonesia celebrates against Team Brazil during the Final match on Day 4 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 12, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 11: Ahmad Muhaimin Bin Abd Razak (MINBAPPE) of Team Malaysia reacts against Team India during the Semi-Final match on Day 3 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Mobile at SEF Arena on December 11, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 11: Ahmad Muhaimin Bin Abd Razak (MINBAPPE) of Team Malaysia reacts against Team India during the Semi-Final match on Day 3 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Mobile at SEF Arena on December 11, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 12: Ahmad Muhaimin Bin Abd Razak (MINBAPPE) and team mates of Team Malaysia winner of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Mobile and Team Indonesia, winners of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console, pose for a photo with their trophies on Day 4 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 12, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 12: Ahmad Muhaimin Bin Abd Razak (MINBAPPE) and team mates of Team Malaysia winner of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Mobile and Team Indonesia, winners of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console, pose for a photo with their trophies on Day 4 of the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball Console at SEF Arena on December 12, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

We are delighted to collaborate with FIFAe again this year, bringing the excitement and enthusiasm to football fans through digital platforms. In the lead up to the FIFAe World Cup 2024™, over 14 million eFootball™ players participated online and the final event recorded the highest number of live streaming in eFootball™ history. We are committed to making this year’s tournament even more exciting by expanding its scale. We look forward to your participation.

（Makoto Igarashi, General Manager, eFootball™ Production）

The fan feedback after last year’s event was incredible and confirmed our vision to provide a home for football esports to a range of different communities. Confirming these free-to-play titles and the event for two seasons is a significant step on our journey, enabling accessibility for nations and players from around the world. The extension of our partnerships highlights the shared ambitions of everyone involved and allows us to sustainably develop the competition structure even further to offer fans and players the best possible experience.

(Christian Volk, Director of eFootball and Gaming)

<Comment from the International Professional Footballers’ Association＞

As we celebrate 60 years of championing the rights of players worldwide, this multi-year renewal with KONAMI comes at a pivotal moment in FIFPRO’s history. Our enduring partnership with KONAMI has been fundamental in advancing our mission to empower and protect professional football players across the globe. KONAMI stands as a true pioneer in digital entertainment, and as we approach one billion downloads of eFootball, it is clear that their forward-thinking vision and commitment to excellence mirror our own values. With 30 years of groundbreaking contributions to football gaming, KONAMI’s legacy speaks for itself. We are deeply honored to continue collaborating with one of the world’s most influential leaders in digital sports innovation, as we push boundaries together, not only in the gaming world but in advancing the future of professional football.

(Andrew Orsatti, Commercial Director)

Last year’s “FIFAe World Cup™ featuring Football™” saw tremendous excitement in Argentina, proving that “eFootball™” is an important communication tool for football fans once again.

We are committed to supporting eFootball™ players with an even stronger commitment than last year, aiming to see a world champion emerge from Argentina!

(Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer)

At the Turkish Football Federation, we recognize the growing significance of eFootball™ as an essential part of the modern football landscape. As technology continues to shape the way fans and players engage with the sport, we see FIFAe as a forward-thinking platform that empowers the next generation of athletes.Türkiye has a strong tradition of passionate, talented youth, and we are proud to support our national esports players who represent our country with pride and determination. Their journey reflects not only individual talent but also the collective spirit and resilience of Turkish football.FIFAe is more than a competition — it is a global celebration of innovation, inclusion, and international collaboration. We look forward to seeing how this platform continues to evolve and inspire millions around the world.

(Sema Tuğçe Dikici, Marketing Director)

Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the “eFootball™” series, which began with “Winning Eleven.” I made my debut in the J.League in 1995, the year that the first title in the series, “J.League Jikkyou Winning Eleven,” was released. Unfortunately, as a rookie player, I was not on the first title, but I was featured in “Winning Eleven ’97,” and I remember being happy when many people told me, “I’m using Miyamoto in Winning Eleven. I believe this game title has conveyed the charm of football not only in Japan but around the world, and I deeply respect its continued evolution and enduring popularity among fans even 30 years after its release. I am also thrilled that the eJapan national team will once again participate in the “FIFAe World Cup 2025™.” This tournament is the pinnacle of the eFootball™ world and a special stage where all players should strive with their dreams and passion. The players are training diligently every day and preparing to face the world’s strongest teams with confidence. The JFA will support the eJapan national team to fully showcase their abilities in this tournament and carve out a new chapter in history on the world stage. We kindly ask for your continued warm support so that the players can face the world with pride.

（Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, President）

As eFootball™ marks its 30th anniversary, we join KONAMI and FIFAe in celebrating a legacy that has transformed the global football and esports landscapes. In Malaysia, eFootball™ has become a significant bridge between the game and our passionate football community, especially among the youth. The continuation of the FIFAe World Cup™ featuring eFootball™ represents an exciting opportunity, inspiring the next generation of digital footballers to dream beyond boundaries. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is proud to support this initiative and is committed to nurturing talents who will represent our nation with pride. We thank KONAMI and FIFA for their unwavering commitment to innovation, and we look forward to witnessing the unifying power of football through this global platform.

(Datuk Mohd Joehari Bin Mohd Ayub, President)

About KONAMI’s esports initiatives

KONAMI holds esports tournaments in Japan and overseas that utilize our game contents. The eFootball™ series has been featured in the competition title for exhibition matches at the 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang, the Culture Program at the Inter-Prefectural Esports Championship which is held for six consecutive years since the Ibaraki Games in 2019, as well as the “World Esports Championship” organized by the International Esports Federation (IeSF). In addition, we are expanding our initiatives combining esports and real sports by hosting eFootball™ Championship 2024 Club Event in collaboration with European professional football clubs, and by co-hosting the eJ.League eFootball™ with Japan Professional Football League (J.League), in which all 40 J1 and J2 clubs participated.

About eFootball™

eFootball™ has been loved by football fans around the world since its launch in 1995 as “Winning Eleven,” and the total number of sales and downloads now exceeds 900 million. In “Dream Team” mode, players can acquire and train players who have excelled in real matches, players from notable leagues, and legendary players who have made their mark in football history to create your own original team and enjoy competitive matches with their original team. Additionally, in “Co-op,” users can experience the excitement of cooperative play with up to 3 vs 3 online.

The game has also been used as a competitive title in various esports tournaments in Japan and overseas, spreading the joy of football through digital platform around the world.

eFootball™ Official website: https://www.konami.com/efootball/ja/

Official X account: @we_konami

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Information: Coppa eFootball Italia Website Closure