FIFA has confirmed that the FIFAe Finals will return in both 2025 and 2026, extending its partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) as it continues to grow its global football esports ecosystem. The announcement also confirms the inclusion of Rocket League and eFootball competitions on both mobile and console platforms.
The FIFAe Finals 2025 will take place from December 10-19 at the SEF Arena in Riyadh, with Saudi Arabia again playing host to a major esports event as part of its Vision 2030 ambitions.
The tournament will feature the FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League, the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball on console, and the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball on mobile — crowning three world champions in their respective games.
“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,” said Christian Volk, Director of eFootball & Gaming at FIFA. “Onboarding free-to-play titles and confirming the event for two seasons are significant steps on our journey to facilitate 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 in order to offer fans and players the best possible experience.”
Meshal Alqabbani, Products Executive Director at SEF, added: “Hosting the FIFAe Finals through 2026 stands as a testament to our commitment to supporting and delivering world-class esports events at both the regional and global levels. Our focus remains on creating an exceptional experience for players and fans alike, enable them to compete and engage in a platform that celebrates their passion and showcases their talent. This milestone further reinforces our Kingdom’s position as a global hub and leader in the gaming and esports industry, and we are looking forward to welcoming the world once again to the SEF Arena in Riyadh this December.”
The extension builds on what FIFA describes as “mutual commitment and confidence” between both parties. The 2024 edition was the most viewed sports simulation event of the year, measured by peak viewers, and marked the first time multiple titles were featured as part of FIFAe’s push to build an open, inclusive ecosystem for all football-related esports.
Saudi Arabia won the inaugural FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League, while Indonesia and Malaysia took home the console and mobile eFootball™ trophies respectively.
Looking ahead, the FIFAe Finals 2025 will feature an expanded qualification system lasting several months, with local and regional activations. FIFA Member Associations will have greater opportunity to participate, supporting the goal of building “a truly global and sustainable ecosystem.”
There will be 16 national teams competing in Rocket League, while the eFootball console and mobile competitions will each feature 12 nations. Registration and further information are available at FIFA.GG.
To coincide with the new season, the FIFAe brand will also roll out refreshed visuals and event branding to help bring the competitions to life. Ticketing information and additional event details are set to be announced later this year.
