Global football governing body FIFA has announced that the finals of its upcoming esports event, the FIFAe Finals 2024, will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The finals, which will take place between December 5th and 12th, will feature tournaments in Rocket Legue and eFootball at the BLVD Riyadh City.
The tournament will be open to the public with the organisers encouraging walk-in visitors. The prize pool for the Rocket League event is $250,000 (£198,750), whilst the eFootball mobile and console prizes are $100,000 (£79,500) each.
The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) has also been announced as the event’s presenting partner. This is not the first time the national body has partnered up with a tournament as this summer Moonton Games announced that the SEF had partnered up with it’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament, MPL MENA.
The event is the first of its kind to feature Rocket League after the game was named as the official game of the FIFAe World Cup in June 2024. The absence of the EA FC series of games (formerly known as FIFA), a staple of the FIFA World Cup, is because the agreement between FIFA and Electronic Arts has been dissolved, and FIFA no longer has the naming rights to the football sim.
In an effort to continue organising events without the globally popular EA FC, FIFA has also held a Football Manager FIFAe World Cup during its Next Gen event in Liverpool. Alongside Rocket League and Football Manager, FIFA decided to include eFootball, EA FC’s direct competitor, as a main game in Liverpool, and now also in Riyadh.
Turki Alfawzan, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation said: “As we continue to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in esports, hosting the FIFAe Finals 2024 is a proud moment for us.
“This event not only highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to the esports ecosystem but also provides an unparalleled opportunity for players from across the world to showcase their talent and passion on a global stage. We’re excited to witness the next chapter of esports history unfold right here in Riyadh.”
