Brazilian esports organisation FURIA has announced the launch of FURIA FC, a football club led by Alessandro ‘Falcão’ Vieira and content creator Allan ‘O Estagiári’ Rodrigues.
The club will compete in the Kings World Cup, a seven-a-side football tournament in Mexico starting May 26th.
The Kings World Cup originates from the Kings League, a football competition established in 2022 by former professional player Gerard Piqué and Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos. 32 teams from across the world will participate in the competition for a chance to win a share of $1m (~£779,805) in prize money. The first portion of the tournament will see teams play using a Swiss format before moving to knockout matches until the Grand Final on June 8th.
FURIA FC is one of two Brazillian teams competing in the Kings World Cup. The second is G3X FC, a club led by Brazilian streamer Alexandre ‘Gaules’ Borba Chiqueta.
FURIA says joining the Kings World Cup is a ‘historic moment not only for FURIA but also for the whole esports scene.’ The expansion into the league follows a change of visual identity and ethos made in October 2023.
The organisation has continued to cement its position as one of the largest esports organisations in South America. In November 2023, FURIA expanded its e-commerce operations enabling it to ship its merchandise globally.
André Akkari, Co-founder and co-CEO of FURIA, spoke on the creation of the club: “The Kings World Cup is something extraordinary in the world sports scene, it’s the evolution of soccer and its adaptation for an audience that no longer sees the sport as it once did.
“The game is modern, with innovation in the dynamics of a match that explodes content possibilities and strongly connects with the digital era. It’s no wonder the project’s success right from its early stages. If there’s evolution, impact, and innovation, FURIA wants to be there.”
Through the support of many notable esports personalities and gaming streamers, the Kings League has recorded impressive viewership on streaming platforms. According to Esports Charts, Kings League 2023 Split 1 recorded 2.1m peak viewers.
