EA and Major League Soccer have teamed up for a FIFA 18 esports league appropriately named eMLS. The eMLS league will only feature players from the U.S. and Canada, and a number of real MLS teams will be hosting their own eMLS clubs. After competing against each other, the overall top team from the eMLS will gain entry to the FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs. These playoffs will culminate in the FIFA eWorld Cup in August.
“We’re honored to partner with MLS within the EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series as we continue to help grow competitive gaming and soccer in North America,” Todd Sitrin, the senior vice president and general manager of the competitive gaming division at EA, said in a press statement. “We engage millions of soccer fans daily through FIFA and attract many more who view our competitions around the world. With the eMLS we accelerate our growth as players compete on the road to the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018.”
There are 19 MLS teams hosting an eMLS club. Those teams will also be responsible for selecting local talent to represent the team in the eMLS. The participating teams are as follows:
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew SC
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
LA Galaxy
Minnesota United FC
Montreal Impact
New England Revolution
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union
Portland Timbers
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Sporting Kansas City
Toronto FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
“We are excited to unveil eMLS,” Gary Stevenson, the president and managing director of MLS Business Ventures, said in the statement. “This step forward into competitive gaming is a key component in our partnership with EA Sports to promote deeper engagement and connections between MLS supporters and the millions of FIFA players around the world.”
The first games of the eMLS cup will debut at this year’s PAX East in April.
So what do you think? Do you have the skills to compete for your team in the eMLS? Do you think North Americans stand a better chance in the eWorld Cup or the real World Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
