North American esports and gaming organisation Evil Geniuses has partnered with American professional soccer club Austin FC to compete in two competitive circuits: eMLS and the global EA FC Pro.

The partnership was announced on March 5, 2026. Through the collaboration, Evil Geniuses will enter the eMLS for the first time, which is the esports property of Major League Soccer operated by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG). In addition, the organisation will also compete in the wider competitive ecosystem built around EA FC.

As part of the deal, professional EA FC player John “k1johnn” Mouneer from Egypt has signed with Evil Geniuses and will represent Austin FC in the 2026 eMLS season.

k1johnn is an experienced EA FC competitor with several strong results in international tournaments. He finished in the top nine globally at the 2023 eWorld Cup and placed in the top five at the EA FC 24 World Championship. He also won the FIFA 23 FGS3 tournament.

Recently, k1johnn qualified for the 2026 eMLS Championship after placing among the top 30 North American players in the eMLS qualifiers. The championship features a $100,000 prize pool and serves as an entry to the FC Pro World Championship.

Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW) will return in 2026 with a bigger and bolder edition, taking place across 18–21 June in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne. The schedule and details about ticket sales are available in this link.

Chris DeAppolonio, CEO of Evil Geniuses, said, “Adding another title to EG’s legacy alongside a respected sports brand like Austin FC makes the endeavor all the more exciting. With soccer taking over North America this year, we’re looking to tap into traditional sports fans in a new way through gaming.”

In the official LinkedIn post, Evil Geniuses also explained that their partnership with Austin FC will continue to expand past eMLS as they both share a vision to bring live gaming and sporting events to the wider community across central Texas.

Apart from this deal, Evil Geniuses also announced a new partnership with London-based creative studio Upwards Agency in October 2025, which will provide the storied club with a range of content services.

Across the Atlantic, Team Liquid has partnered with English football club Sunderland AFC in a similar deal for the upcoming ePremier League season, the FC Pro partnered league in the United Kingdom.

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