Red Bull has announced a new competition format called Red Bull Coded Cleats, combining real-world football with digital gameplay in EA Sports FC. The event will debut in Dallas on June 5–6, 2026.
The main goal of the initiative is to bring traditional sports and gaming closer together by creating a unified match format where the final score depends on players’ performance in both arenas.
In this hybrid tournament, teams consist of six players. During matches, four players compete on the football field, while two of their teammates play EA Sports FC on consoles. Both segments share the same score and a unified game timer.
At halftime, the console players swap places with two of the players on the field. This ensures that every participant takes part in both the physical and digital aspects of the game.
The launch of Coded Cleats is part of a broader push toward “hybrid fandom” in 2026. Previously, Red Bull introduced Red Bull XI, a social media channel focused on the intersection of football culture and gaming.
As a reminder, a streamer recently played League of Legends using a racing steering wheel.
