After their split with EA in 2023, FIFA have partnered up with Konami as part of their Esports initiative, bringing the publisher’s eFootball (formerly PES) to be used in two FIFAe World Cup competitions later this year on mobile and console.

In a joint statement from FIFA and Konami, they said: “The objective of this collaboration is to further boost the joy of the global football community through esports… By allowing players to represent their nations through dedicated competitions, this initiative will take the connection with the community to a new level”.

FIFA has also claimed that they plan to launch a rival game to EA Sports FC, but in the meantime will be teaming up with their long-time competitor.

In his own statement Koji Kobayashi, Senior Executive Officer at Konami, said "We would like to express our sincere gratitude to FIFA for providing us with this opportunity. We can't wait for the FIFAe World Cup to begin. We look forward to sharing the enthusiasm, excitement, and joy of our players around the world through the FIFAe World Cup".

It is a beneficial agreement for both parties, with FIFA keeping itself in the gaming market and part of the Esports scene, and Konami pairing up with the most recognisable name in football. With the last EA FIFA title released back in 2022, it seems that FIFA has had its halftime pep talk and is ready to take the field again.

To read the joint statement from FIFA and Konami, click HERE.