The FIFA eWorld Cup claims to have drawn more than 29 million views from Aug. 2-4 on its online platforms, according to John McCarthy of THE DRUM. Global broadcasters will announce their figures at a later date, but the news is "encouraging" for FIFA's official esports competition as views were up 400% compared to the previous year. The views also "doubled the digital viewership" of the EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs in Amsterdam from May 28-June 3. Twenty million gamers from 60 countries "tried their hand to qualify" for the FIFA eWorld Cup tournament this year. Furthermore, it claims to have hit a peak of 322,000 concurrent views. The feeds were distributed across 12 digital platforms and 19 national broadcasters. Reflecting on the tournament, which was broadcast from the O2 Arena in London, EA Sports GM & SVP of Competitive Gaming Todd Sitrin said, "The power of real-world sports and esports is a massive multiplier, and this year's increase in online viewership is indicative of this power coming to life" (THE DRUM, 8/13).
