In July 2025, Konami Digital Entertainment pulled off a major move that could reshape football gaming for years ahead. The company extended its partnership with FIFAFédération Internationale de Football Association to promote football esports through 2026, officially announcing the deal at the eFootball World Festival in Tokyo on Monday, July 21, 2025. What makes this significant? Turns out, Konami also renewed its long-running relationship with FIFPRO—the organization representing 65,000 professional soccer players globally—meaning your favorite players will keep appearing in eFootball games for the foreseeable future.
Partnership Details and Timeline
The financial specifics weren't disclosed, which is typical for these kinds of deals. But the timeline matters here. The extension kicks in for the 2025-26 season, building on a partnership that actually started back in 2001 when eFootball was still known as Pro Evolution Soccer (or Winning Eleven in Japan). That's over two decades of collaboration between FIFPRO and Konami, which explains why the renewal feels so natural for both sides.
Here's what you need to know about the competition side. The FIFAe World Cup 2025Saudi Arabia featuring eFootball on mobile and console will take place in December 2025 as part of the FIFAe Finals. This marks the third season of the FIFAe World Cup leading up to 2026, with both editions expected to grow bigger than last year's event. The qualifying format is changing, which means more countries and regions can participate through a worldwide open qualification process that lasts several months.
Market Impact and Player Access
The numbers tell an interesting story about scale. More than 900 million downloads since eFootball's 2021 rebrand from Pro Evolution Soccer shows massive adoption. For context, the 2024 edition of the FIFAe World Cup alone saw over 14 million players join online qualifiers. Sixteen nations made it to the mobile finals, while 18 competed in the console version. The 2024 console final attracted over 400,000 peak concurrent viewers—a record for an eFootball-based esports event.
But wait, there's more happening here beyond just the numbers. With the FIFPRO cooperation, the number of licensed clubs and players available for competitions is increasing. This adds depth and realism to team selection while improving accessibility for players across different skill levels. Makoto Igarashi, General Manager of eFootball Production, commented on the partnership extension during the Tokyo announcement, though his full statement wasn't widely published.
Industry Context and Competition
Oddly enough, this whole situation traces back to 2022 when FIFA ended its longstanding partnership with EA Sports. That opening allowed Konami to become a mainstay of FIFA's esports strategy. It's a bit surprising given how long EA held the license, but here we are six years later with a completely different competitive landscape in football gaming.
Saudi Arabia's role as host for the 2025 finals aligns with its wider strategy to invest in international sporting and esports events. The country has been aggressively pursuing sports investments, and hosting esports competitions fits that vision perfectly. FIFA noted in their statement that fan feedback after the previous year's event was incredible, confirming their vision to provide a home for football esports to different communities worldwide.
Arsenal Partnership Extension
In related news, on August 7, 2025, Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. announced an extension to its partnership with Arsenal Football Club. The London-based club continues as one of the top clubs featured in eFootball, with Konami remaining the Official Football Video Gaming Partner. This collaboration has lasted over eight years now. Shinji Namekawa of Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. was involved in announcing this extension.
What Players Can Expect
Detailed schedules and entry guidelines for the 2025 competition will be announced at a later date, but players can find more information from the eFootball official website and FIFA.GG. The game is available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, PC, iOS, and Android platforms, making it accessible across virtually every modern gaming device.
FIFPRO stated that as it celebrates 60 years of championing player rights worldwide, the multi-year renewal with Konami comes at a pivotal moment in their history. The federation noted that its enduring partnership with Konami has been fundamental in advancing their mission to empower and protect professional football players globally. They described Konami as a true pioneer in digital entertainment, noting that as eFootball approaches one billion downloads, Konami's forward-thinking vision mirrors FIFPRO's own values.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new FIFA-Konami partnership begin?
The partnership extension covers both 2025 and 2026, with the formal announcement made on July 21, 2025. The FIFPRO component specifically kicks in for the 2025-26 season, building on a relationship that originally began in 2001 when the game was called Pro Evolution Soccer.
Where will the FIFAe World Cup 2025 take place?
The tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia in December 2025 as part of the FIFAe Finals. This venue choice aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader investment strategy in international sporting and esports events, continuing their growing presence in global esports hosting.
How many players participated in the 2024 qualifiers?
The 2024 edition saw more than 14 million players take part in online qualifiers across all platforms. Sixteen nations reached the mobile finals while 18 competed in the console version, with the console final attracting over 400,000 peak concurrent viewers—a record for eFootball esports events.
Why is the FIFPRO partnership important?
FIFPRO represents 65,000 professional soccer players worldwide, and their name, image, and likeness rights make licensed players available in eFootball. This increases realism and accessibility for fans while ensuring professional players are represented fairly in digital competitions, with no agencies involved in the arrangement.
Is Arsenal still featured in eFootball?
Yes, on August 7, 2025, Konami confirmed Arsenal Football Club will continue as one of the top clubs in eFootball. The partnership extension maintains Konami's position as Official Football Video Gaming Partner after over eight years of collaboration between the companies.
