The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), in partnership with financial institution BPI, has announced the launch of the eLiga BPI, a new EA FC 26 competition dedicated exclusively to female football esports players.
Scheduled to begin its first stage on 17 May 2026 at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, the initiative aims to increase the visibility of female talent in the digital space while bridging the gap between traditional football and the esports ecosystem.
According to a press release, the partnership is designed to foster inclusion and provide a professional competitive pathway for female players, mirroring the bank’s long-term commitment to the physical women’s football league in Portugal.
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The eLiga BPI is open to all clubs registered in women’s competitions organised by the FPF, with each club eligible to register a Portuguese player to represent their colours. Following the opening phase in May, the top four clubs will secure a place in the “final four” scheduled for 4 June. This decisive stage will be integrated into the FPF eSPORTS Finals 2026 at Arena Portugal, an event that serves as the culmination of the national season with a total prize pool exceeding €50,000.
“This initiative marks an important step in the FPF’s commitment to the growth of esports, promoting inclusion and giving visibility to female talent,” the federation stated in its official launch. The partnership with BPI—which already serves as the naming sponsor for the top-tier women’s association football league, Liga BPI—is intended to strengthen the bank’s positioning in supporting equal opportunities and engaging younger, digitally native audiences.
The introduction of the eLiga BPI comes as an increase of commercial attention could be seen within women’s esports in the last few days, with recent moves such as the expansion of League of Legends Game Changers EMEA. Furthermore, L’Oréal Paris has recently tapped the space through an one-off activation with FURIA aimed specifically at the female demographic.
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