FIFA has announced a new tournament structure ©FIFA

FIFA’s esports tournament organisers are being urged to "step up" and "engage deeper with football’s next generation" ahead of the new season played on EA SPORTS FIFA 21.

Players, clubs and nations have been split into "clear and distinct narratives" as part of a new FIFAe tournament structure announced by FIFA.

Competitors will have the chance to qualify to represent their club in the FIFAe Club Series, compete for their country in the FIFAe Nations Series or "create their own legacy" in the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series on the Road to the FIFAe World Cup.

Christian Volk, director of efootball and gaming at FIFA, believes the FIFAe tournament can "get closer to pros, gamers and fans."

"In times of digital acceleration, we see a strong shift in media consumption, social values and entertainment narratives," said Volk.

"To engage deeper with football’s next generation, we have to step up now.

"Our ambition is to seed the movement for what might become a new football category in the ecosystem of FIFA. We want to create the biggest stage for the best players and teams of the community to shine brighter, while growing access for new up-and-comers to FIFAe tournaments.


"All of us at FIFA are excited for what the future holds."

Teams and players can now sign up for the FIFAe Club Series which is due to kick off in November, with the best performing teams of the qualification competing at the FIFAe Club World Cup in 2021.
FIFA has also announced the FIFAe World Cup and the FIFAe Nations Series will both feature a $500,000 (£390,000/€430,000) prize pool, with the FIFAe Club Series putting $350,000 (£270,000/€300,000) on the line.

Another $3 million (£2.3 million/€2.6 million) in prize money is expected to be distributed by EA across qualifiers, regional playoffs, the eChampions League, and CONMEBOL eLibertadores as part of the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series.

"This is an exciting time for EA and FIFA as we continue to bring engaging competitions and entertainment to fans around the world," said Brent Koning, EA’s FIFA competitive gaming commissioner and group director.

"In partnership with FIFA, these narratives will bring fans closer to the action, give players more opportunities to compete, and help find the next big FIFA esports star. In these unprecedented times, we are dedicated to bringing people together to celebrate club, country, and personal glory."