FIFA Reveals FIFAe World Cup Featuring Rocket League

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
FIFA has partnered with Epic Games to integrate Rocket League into its global FIFAe esports competition.
02
The move serves as a strategic replacement for the FIFA video game franchise following EA Sports' decision to drop the FIFA license in 2022.
03
The inaugural FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League will consist of 16 national teams, each composed of three players and one substitute.
04
Participating nations for the tournament are being selected based on criteria including player base size and previous competitive performance.
05
Member associations are permitted to host their own local qualification tournaments to scout and select national team representatives.
06
Interested players can register for the upcoming tournament, scheduled for later in 2024, via the FIFA.GG platform.

Summary

FIFA has entered into a strategic partnership with Epic Games to integrate the vehicular soccer title Rocket League into its global esports circuit, FIFAe. This initiative serves as a direct response to the 2022 expiration of the licensing agreement between FIFA and EA Sports, which led to the latter’s transition to the independent EA Sports FC franchise. By adopting Rocket League, FIFA aims to maintain its presence in the competitive gaming landscape through a new, high-profile tournament structure.

The inaugural FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League is scheduled to take place later in 2024. The competition will feature 16 national teams, each consisting of three primary players and one substitute. Selection criteria for these participating nations are based on regional player base size and historical performance metrics. Member associations are encouraged to facilitate their own local qualification tournaments to identify and scout talent to represent their respective countries on the global stage.

Interested participants can register for the tournament through the official FIFA.GG platform. This move marks a significant shift in FIFA’s digital strategy, pivoting away from traditional simulation-style football games toward a more arcade-oriented, physics-based competitive title to sustain its esports ecosystem.