FIFAe World Cup 2026 Challenger Series Officially Begins

The road to the biggest stage in competitive eFootball has officially begun. KONAMI has launched the FIFAe World Cup 2026 Challenger Series, which will act as the primary qualification pathway to the FIFAe World Cup 2026 featuring the eFootball franchise.

Format and Schedule

The Challenger Series runs from February 12 to February 22, 2026, serving as an official in-game qualification event. This year’s competition expands significantly, with more than 110 FIFA Member Associations participating, including new additions such as Croatia, Kenya, and Tunisia.

Players will compete directly within eFootball across a three-stage format:

• Round 1 – AI Challenges (February 12–19):

Participants must complete VS AI Challenge Events to advance.

• Round 2 – PvP Challenge Event (February 12–19):

Players who progress must complete PvP Challenge Events to qualify for the next stage.

• Round 3 – PvP Ranking Event (February 20–23):

Competitors face off in PvP matches to secure the highest possible ranking.

Final standings will determine eligibility for potential nomination by each nation’s respective FIFA Member Association. Official rankings will be published on FIFA.GG shortly after the event concludes.

One of the most notable updates comes in the Mobile division, which now adopts a 2v2 format, aligning it with the Console competition structure. All matches throughout the Challenger Series will be played in Dream Team mode.

Qualification Requirements

Strong in-game performance alone is not enough to secure a place. Players must also:

• Register on FIFA.GG
• Claim their ranking profile
• Link their KONAMI User ID
• Select a participating national team
• Hold a valid passport from that nation
• Be at least 16 years old at the time of representation

Once the Challenger Series concludes, national football federations will select their representatives. These players will then move on to international qualification tournaments, which will determine the nations advancing to the FIFAe World Cup 2026, scheduled for Autumn 2026.

With expanded participation and a refined competitive structure, the Challenger Series marks the official starting point on the path to one of the most prestigious tournaments in competitive eFootball.