Konami Digital Entertainment extended its partnership with FIFA to cover the FIFAe World Cups in 2025 and 2026, aiming to grow competitive football gaming worldwide. Both mobile and console editions of eFootball will return to next year’s tournament, and the open qualifier field will expand to include more FIFA member associations.

At the FIFAe World Cup 2024, held last December, more than 14 million players entered online qualifiers. In the mobile division, 16 national teams advanced to the finals, while 18 teams reached the console grand final stage. The finals streamed globally, and the console division set a new viewership high by peaking at over 400,000 concurrent viewers.

During the eFootball World Festival in Tokyo on July 21, Konami and FIFA announced the extension as part of the series’ 30th anniversary celebration. The partnership will collaborate with FIFPRO to increase the number of eligible clubs and athletes, strengthening pathways for competitive play.

The FIFAe World Cup 2025 is scheduled for December in Saudi Arabia as part of the FIFAe Finals 2025. Several months of regional and interregional open qualifiers will precede the finals, broadening grassroots engagement and laying the groundwork for a sustainable esports ecosystem.

Anniversary content unveiled in Tokyo includes the addition of legendary players Wayne Rooney and Gareth Bale to the Epic Legend Assemble roster. These icons will debut with special anniversary kits, and further legends will be introduced throughout the coming year.

A new club partnership with Borussia Dortmund launches on July 24, introducing eight team members to eFootball, three of which will be available for free through a Club Selection event. This initiative is designed to deepen collaboration between developers, clubs and fans. Players and associations can find full details and register on the official eFootball site and FIFA.GG as the expanded format seeks to make football esports more accessible around the globe.