Major League Soccer (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) and Electronic Arts (EA) today announced the competitive schedule and details for the 2022 season of eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ, the official esports league of Major League Soccer.
The season will feature 27 professional EA SPORTS FIFA players, each representing an Â鶹ÊÓƵ club, on the virtual pitch as they compete for their share of the record-setting $75,000 season prize pool.
Competition will take place on EA SPORTS FIFA 22 and will be played exclusively on PlayStation®5 (PS5â„¢), marking eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ’s debut season played on the next-generation console.
eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ League Series 1 presented by Coca-Cola
- Hosted by FC Cincinnati
- January 15: Qualifiers at TQL StadiumÌý- all 27 eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ players will compete to make the final bracket
- January 16: Finals at PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation -ÌýFans will be able to attend in-person to see who is crowned League Series 1 champion in addition to partaking in various fan activities, including FIFA 22 gaming stations and giveaways.
eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ League Series 2 presented by Coca-Cola
- Hosted by Chicago Fire FC
- January 29: Qualifiers at Soldier FieldÌý- all 27 eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ players will compete to make the final bracket
- January 30: Finals atÌýHouse of BluesÌý- Fans will be able to attend in-person to see who is crowned League Series 2 champion in addition to partaking in various fan activities, including FIFA 22 gaming stations and giveaways.
eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ Cup presented by Coca-Cola
- An official event of SXSW 2022
- March 13: eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ CupÌý- the top 12 eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ players will compete to be crowned the 2022 season champion
- Recognized as a Tier 1 league by EA SPORTS, the top three eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ Cup finishers will receive direct seats to the EA SPORTS Global Series Playoffs on the Road to the FIFAe World Cup.
- The first 11 competitors in the field will be determined by total season qualifier points from League Series events
- March 12: Last Change QualifierÌý- The 12th and final seed from a Last Chance Qualifier tournament on March 12.
- Location:ÌýeÂ鶹ÊÓƵ Cup will take place at ACL Live in downtown Austin in conjunction with Austin FC and will be a FIFA celebration at the intersection of soccer, gaming, and pop culture with numerous activities for fans to enjoy. The event will be open to SXSW badge holders as well as the general public for free. Registration will open at a later date.
Charlotte FC joins eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ
Ìýwill join eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ in 2022, bringing the total eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ participation count to 27 clubs.
350 hours of live coverage
For the first time, all participating clubs will stream each of their season qualifying matches on their respective official social channels, providing clubs with new competitive content representing up to a record-setting 350 hours of live coverage and offering fans more opportunities to watch their favorite eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ players compete at every tournament stage.
Fans can tune in to all eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ competitions beginning on
Return to live events
If ongoing pandemic conditions allow, this year’s eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ will see a return to in-person competition hosted at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Club stadiums and local concert venues in Cincinnati, Chicago, and Austin.
"Coming off our most successful season yet with record-breaking viewership, the 2022 eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ season will see the return of some of the top EA SPORTS FIFA players in the world, with live competitions taking place in the heart of our Â鶹ÊÓƵ communities," said Camilo Durana, Senior Vice President of Properties and Events, Major League Soccer. "eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ continues to enhance and build our relationships with fans through accessible, exciting, and intense competition, which is why we’re thrilled to expand our coverage and return to live events this upcoming season."
eÂ鶹ÊÓƵ prioritizes the health and safety of its competitors, staff, and fans. All in-person events will follow local and state guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety measures. Competitions are subject to transition to online-onlyÌýdependent on ongoing COVID-19 conditions.
