The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced EA SPORTS FC as an Official Licensed Product of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, marking the first time EA’s football franchise has secured rights tied to Asia’s biggest international football tournament.
The partnership will bring AFC Asian Cup content into select EA SPORTS FC products, with more details on in-game integrations, activations, and launch plans expected later this year. The move also marks a significant shift away from KONAMI’s long-standing partnership with AFC competitions through the eFootball series.
PES, and then later, after rebranding, eFootball, had established itself as the football gaming partner for AFC esports initiatives, including the AFC eAsian Cup 2023, where eFootball 2024 served as the official competition title.
KONAMI’s partnership included official esports tournaments tied directly to the AFC Asian Cup ecosystem, with national qualifiers and regional finals hosted as part of the event structure.
The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, featuring 24 national teams competing across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. Through the new partnership, EA SPORTS FC aims to deliver more authentic tournament experiences to football fans worldwide while strengthening its presence in Asian football markets.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John shared: “This partnership underlines the AFC’s commitment to embracing innovation and engaging new generations of fans by bringing Asia’s crown jewel into the digital ecosystem, and I am confident that it will amplify the reach and appeal of the competition and enable millions of fans around the world to join in the celebration of Asian football.”
Expressing delight on the partnership, Jamie McKinlay, Senior Vice President, Asia Publishing at Electronic Arts, said: “Asia is home to some of the most passionate and fast-growing football communities in the world, and this collaboration reflects our ambition to celebrate that energy on a global stage. Together, we’re building more authentic, culturally resonant experiences that connect fans to the tournament and help shape the future of football fandom across the region and beyond.”
As for players, we can likely expect AFC Asian Cup-themed content and promotional campaigns to become part of EA SPORTS FC games. While exact features have not yet been confirmed, the collaboration is expected to introduce tournament-themed events, special player cards, and regional football content across console, PC, and mobile versions of the game.
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