Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (hereafter, KONAMI) announced that it has extended its partnership with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for the development of eSports and that the "FIFAe World Cup" will also be held in 2025 and 2026 for both mobile and console divisions.
It was announced that for 2025, the qualifying format will be changed and the number of participating countries and regions will be expanded, making the event larger in scale than last year.
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the "eFootball" Series, eSports is Gaining Momentum Worldwide!
The "FIFAe World Cup 2024," held in December 2024 with the console and mobile versions of "eFootball" as the competitive titles, became a large-scale event with over 14 million players participating worldwide. Representative players from 16 countries and regions in the mobile division and 18 countries and regions in the console division competed.
The finals of each division were also streamed online to the entire world and excited soccer fans around the world, with the number of live viewers for the console division exceeding a record-high 400,000.
Following this, at the "eFootball World Festival in Tokyo" event, which was held on Monday, July 21, 2025, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the "eFootball" series, it was announced that the partnership agreement between FIFA and KONAMI for the development of eSports would be continued and that the "FIFAe World Cup" would be held in 2025 and 2026.
Furthermore, with the cooperation of FIFPRO, it was decided to expand the number of players that can be used in the finals of the "FIFAe World Cup 2025," which will be expanded to more countries and regions than last year.
We can't wait for the announcement of which players from which countries will be available.
The "FIFAe Finals 2025," the final tournament for the mobile and console divisions of the "FIFAe World Cup 2025," will be held in Saudi Arabia in December of the same year.
In addition to holding qualifiers over several months, it was also announced that regional events will be held so that more people can enjoy eSports soccer.
Furthermore, it seems that they will deepen their efforts to create a system that will allow eSports soccer to continue for a long time around the world by having more FIFA member associations participate.
With this, both eSports soccer and real soccer will become even more exciting.
The Japanese representative players will be decided by the "JFA Soccer e-Japan National Team Selection Tournament 2025," organized by the Japan Football Association, a public interest incorporated foundation, as in the previous tournament.
The details of the selection tournament will be announced on the JFA official website as soon as they are decided, so soccer fans should also keep an eye out for this.
Detailed schedules and entry methods will be announced on the eFootball official website and the FIFAe official website, so let's wait for further reports.
You can also watch the archived stream of the stage event from the "eFootball World Festival in Tokyo" on the "eFootball" YouTube official channel.
If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check it out.
Comments from Related Parties
Makoto Igarashi, General Manager, eFootball™ Production, Konami Digital Entertainment
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.
Christian Volk, Director of eFootball and Gaming, Fédération Internationale de Football Association
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.
Al Buset, Andrew Orsatti, FIFPRO Chief Commercial Officer, International Federation of Professional Footballers
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.
Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Argentine Football Association
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!
Sema Tuğçe Dikici, Marketing Director, Turkish Football Federation
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.
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, President, Japan Football Association
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.
Datuk Mohd Joehari Bin Mohd Ayub, President, Football Association of Malaysia
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.
