July 21 – Konami has extended its partnership with FIFA through 2026, confirming that its eFootball title will continue to serve as the platform for the FIFAe World Cup on both mobile and console.
The 2025 and 2026 editions will again use the free-to-play game and expand in both scale and reach, beginning with this year’s finals, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in December.
The renewed agreement was announced during the eFootball World Championship in Tokyo – an event that also marked the 30th anniversary of Konami’s football gaming franchise.
Konami has become a mainstay of FIFA’s esport strategy since it separated from its longstanding partnership with EA Sports in 2022.
Under the extended deal, the number of participating nations is set to increase, with an open global qualification process supported by local and regional events. The aim is to bring more FIFA member associations into the fold and further professionalise the competitive structure of football esports.
The 2024 edition of the tournament saw more than 14 million players take part in online qualifiers. Sixteen nations reached the mobile finals, and 18 competed in the console version. The console final attracted over 400,000 peak concurrent viewers – a record for an eFootball-based event.
The 2025 competition will again be split between mobile and console tournaments. With the support of Fifpro, the pool of licensed clubs and players will grow, adding depth and realism to team selection while improving accessibility and engagement.
Saudi Arabia’s role as host for the 2025 finals aligns with its wider strategy to invest in international sporting and esports events.
Qualification timelines and entry procedures for the 2025 tournament will be announced soon via the official eFootball and FIFAe platforms.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1753093025labto1753093025ofdlr1753093025owedi1753093025sni@g1753093025niwe.1753093025yrrah1753093025
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