On March 17th, the 2024 EA SPORTS FC Pro Football World Carnival successfully concluded in Shanghai. After four days of intense competition, the Indonesian team emerged as the champions of the elimination round, while the Chinese Vanguard Team claimed victory in the points league and finished as runners-up in the elimination round.
In recent years, e-sports has become a popular platform for young generations to experience traditional sports culture and socialize. This carnival, held in Shanghai, not only rejuvenated football culture through digital means but also positioned China as an excellent stage for global gamers and e-sports enthusiasts to exchange ideas and learn from one another, following the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Li Yang, the responsible person for EA China’s mobile product publishing, commented, “Electronic football e-sports is now a significant part of young fans’ football experience and presents a new opportunity to establish connections with the younger generation and expand the influence of football culture.”
11 National Teams Battle, Legends and Fans Gather
Organized by FC Football World, EA SPORTS FC Pro, and Tencent Esports, the 2024 EA SPORTS FC Pro Football World Carnival was a high-level international invitational tournament showcasing the pinnacle of EA SPORTS FC football.
EA SPORTS FC Pro Football World Carnival
The event comprised four stages: points league, qualifying round, elimination round, and final. Twelve teams from 11 regions, including China, Indonesia, Spain, and others, delivered over a hundred thrilling matches during the four-day event.
Indonesia performed consistently in the first two days of the points league, securing a third-place finish and advancing to the elimination round, where they defeated Korea, Malaysia, and the Chinese Vanguard Team to win the elimination round championship.
Elimination Round Results
The Chinese Vanguard Team dominated the points league, securing the title, but lost to Indonesia in the elimination round, earning the runner-up position. The Chinese Iron Guard Team, after a setback in the points league, regained their composure and advanced to the quarterfinals in the qualifying round. Despite not winning the elimination round, both teams demonstrated resilience and unwavering spirit that moved both on-site and online spectators.
Points League Standings
In terms of the “Supremacy Leaderboard,” Thai Red Giant’s player Boubon Mi scored 41 goals and conceded 14, topping the list. Wang Mingqiang from the Chinese Iron Guard Team scored 40 goals and conceded 16, ranking second. Li Rongzhang from the Chinese Vanguard Team, playing three fewer matches, still managed to score 39 goals and concede 18, securing third place, demonstrating strong strategic and control skills.
Throughout the carnival, various performances and interactive programs related to Chinese traditional culture and football culture were organized, offering players and audiences a more diverse cultural experience.
On the opening day, there was a traditional Chinese martial arts performance, showcasing Chinese culture to overseas participants. On the final day, Ruud Gullit, one of the Dutch trio, was among the legends who attended, sharing insights and interacting with fans, presenting exclusive gifts and signatures. Additionally, EA SPORTS FC developers and operations staff were present, unveiling the latest game updates and the launch ceremony for the FML professional league.
Ruud Gullit
As of March 2024, FC Football World had been released in over 150 countries and territories, with more than 100 million active users.
Through the EA SPORTS FC Pro Football World Carnival, EA SPORTS FC enriches players’ gaming experiences while leveraging e-sports events and football culture to connect players, professionals, athletes, clubs, and other stakeholders worldwide, transforming games into an ecosystem that creates more value.
Brand Upgrade, A Comprehensive Ecosystem Unites Forces
Launched in November 2023, EA SPORTS FC Pro is a new e-sports brand and ecosystem, currently encompassing the EA SPORTS FC Pro Carnival, EA SPORTS FC Pro Masters, and EA SPORTS FC Pro Champions Cup.
At the carnival, organizers announced the e-sports plans for the FC series, both for the PC game FC ONLINE and the mobile game FC Football World, in 2024.
On the PC side, FC ONLINE launched its inaugural professional league, FCL, which will host two leagues annually and increase the number of intercontinental tournaments from two to three, enhancing international exchanges and regional competition. Players can qualify for top international events like the Beijing BTW and Shenzhen Wolf teams, representing the Chinese region at the April Seoul FC PRO MASTERS intercontinental tournament.
Beyond the competitive upgrade, FCL has made strides in cultural tourism cooperation. In March, the new FCL brand was held at the Rui’an City Gymnasium, featuring an exploration of the integration of esports and culture, both online and offline. Beyond the tournament, football culture was integrated into Rui’an schools and the historic Yuhai Ancient City Cultural District, with a history of over 1,700 years.
Overall, EA SPORTS is building a multi-tiered, standardized mature tournament system, enabling more football and gaming enthusiasts to achieve their e-sports dreams.
Tournament System
The FC series’ tournament system consists of four levels: mass participation third-party and public events, semi-professional events, professional leagues, and the three intercontinental events of EA SPORTS FC Pro.
This system, grounded in mass-oriented public competitions, provides a smooth upward pathway. Players can advance through the secondary FMCL and professional FML to vie for the highest honors in FC Football World’s domestic events. The winners of the professional league can then compete in the apex international tournaments: EA SPORTS FC Pro Carnival, EA SPORTS FC Pro Masters, and EA SPORTS FC Pro Champions Cup.
Club Participation Model
FC Football World also offers new participation models and commercial guarantees for clubs. Clubs can choose to sign professional players directly or nurture their own players to participate in the league. Meanwhile, EA SPORTS leverages its strengths in online and offline content marketing and abundant club and city cooperation resources to expand the commercial potential of the tournaments.
By reducing risks for club investors and sponsors and improving commercial effectiveness, the tournaments attract more clubs to join, together with the official organization, in supporting gamers’ football e-sports dreams.
Digital Empowerment, Football Culture Rejuvenated