Major League Soccer is joining the esports movement, announcing on Friday its partnership with EA Sports to create eMLS, a competitive FIFA 18 league that will feature top players from the U.S. and Canada.
MLS setting up a competitive gaming league follows the lead of a number of soccer leagues that have already done the same. In the U.S., the NFL is in its first season of the Madden NFL Club Championship in collaboration with EA and the NBA later this season will launch the NBA 2K League — both involving major sports video game titles.
MLS will engage fans of participating MLS teams to follow along as players are recruited and compete for the eMLS Cup in April at gaming festival PAX East in Boston. That event will determine the U.S. and Canada qualifiers to the EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs for a berth to August’s FIFA eWorld Cup, which was recently announced.
“This step forward into competitive gaming is a key component in our partnership with EA Sports to promote deeper engagement and connections between MLS supporters and millions of FIFA players around the world,” MLS Business Ventures President and Managing Director Gary Stevenson said in a statement.
Further details on the eMLS league’s structure and player signings will be revealed in the coming weeks, but at least one MLS club has already gotten started. New York City FC became the first in the MLS to sign an esports player last April, and Christopher Holly said he was excited about eMLS.
“Last year, I clearly showed that the Americans can compete against the Europeans, and this year, I’m looking forward to taking it one step further and win,” he said.
