The International Association Football Federation has announced the creation of the FIFAe Storytelling Fund initiative — a financial support program for esports organizations, national associations, and content creators within the eFootball and Rocket League disciplines. The main goal of the fund is to encourage coverage of the ecosystem through authentic narrative-driven content, ranging from the grassroots level up to major tournaments.
The launch of the program is timed to coincide with two key 2026 events — the FIFAe World Cup and the FIFAe Finals, both taking place under an extended multi-year partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation.
The program features two separate funding tracks: the first is open exclusively to official FIFA member national associations, while the second is open to individual creators and community members. Creators can submit projects in various formats, including podcasts, social media video campaigns, and documentary series.
Applications will be evaluated based on five criteria:
- Content fit: coverage of qualified players and national teams.
- Distribution strategy: effectiveness and channels for reaching the audience.
- Production viability: realism of execution and project delivery.
- Post-release reporting: fulfillment of obligations after the content goes live.
- Rights evaluation: use of strictly original content without third-party material.
To participate, candidates must submit an initial concept via a dedicated form. Applicants who make the shortlist will then defend a detailed budget and present a formal pitch.
By launching the fund, FIFA acknowledges that the most compelling content about national esports competitions is created not by major traditional broadcasters, but by local fans, regional journalists, and dedicated creators. Financial support is intended to lower barriers to building a full-fledged media infrastructure around an ecosystem that pulled in over 16 million participants last year.
FIFA representatives emphasize that the initiative is currently in its pilot stage with limited funding, and the experience from the first round will shape the structure of future grants. The first projects will be able to cover continental qualifiers for Rocket League starting in late August. Details regarding timelines and grant amounts will be published on official FIFAe channels.
As a reminder, the first-ever EA Sports FC Pro Mobile 2026 Mid-Season Playoffs tournament has kicked off in Bangkok.