EA Details Esports Plans for EA Sports FC

Electronic Arts has unveiled the competitive framework for its new football franchise, EA Sports FC, introducing a global esports program titled FC Pro. The initiative focuses on 1v1 competition played exclusively on the PlayStation 5 platform. The program is designed to integrate professional football clubs into the ecosystem, leveraging partnerships with major leagues such as the Premier League, LALIGA, Bundesliga, Serie A, and MLS to foster a structured path for professional players.

The inaugural 2023-2024 season is scheduled to run from October 2023 through June 2024, featuring a total prize pool of $1 million USD. The competition structure begins with an open ladder system, progressing to regional online qualifiers. Top-seeded competitors will advance to an in-person event in London to secure spots in the FC Pro Open, an eight-week global tournament. Following this, the FC Pro Leagues will host tentpole events in collaboration with football league partners from February to May 2024.

The season culminates in June 2024 with the FC Pro World Championship. This final event will feature a field of 32 players, consisting of the top performers from the FC Pro Open and the various FC Pro Leagues. Participants will compete through a group stage and a single-elimination bracket to determine the first-ever FC Pro World Champion. This program represents a significant commitment to maintaining a high-level competitive circuit for the publisher's rebranded football title across 10 distinct regions.