Konami Digital Entertainment has officially announced the expansion of its flagship esports club tournament, the eFootball Championship 2027. The updated competitive season, which kicked off on October 8, 2026, features a restructured qualification system and a significant increase in the scale of the competition.
The main innovation is the tripling of the total prize pool: the amount has increased from $100,000 to $300,000. In addition, the number of World Finals participants has been expanded from 16 to 24 esports athletes in both the console and mobile divisions.
The 2027 season will be based on two key pillars:
Given the record 45 million participants from the previous season, the company is introducing local events across various countries and regions to expand international representation. Winners of these regional tournaments will earn direct qualification to the eFootball Championship 2027 World Finals, expected to take place in the summer of 2027 (the venue is currently undisclosed).
The official start of the season was marked by the launch of the FC Internazionale Milano qualifiers. Beyond cash payouts, Konami is expanding its club integration through the "Club Tour" program. Winners of the club finals will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to their partner club's home stadium, which includes exclusive behind-the-scenes access, stadium tours, and attendance at official top-flight matches. Furthermore, the top players in the in-game Round 3 Ranking Events will earn exclusive "Show Time" digital rewards to improve their squads.
In parallel with the development of club tournaments, Konami also serves as the official platform for the nation-based FIFAe World Cup competitions as part of a major partnership with FIFA.
However, the FIFAe Finals 2026, which also features Rocket League and is scheduled to be held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), is currently facing organizational difficulties. Due to geopolitical instability in the Middle East, esports teams have started declining to travel. Notably, England national team manager Jeff Simpkins officially confirmed that the English squad has withdrawn from the competition.
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