EA Sports is teaming up with the Major League Soccer to launch a worldwide ESports league around the FIFA soccer series game.
Branded as eMLS, 19 of the 23 MLS teams have signed up, including the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Much like NBA 2K League, the joint league will feature one player per team from the United State and Canada that will go toe-to-toe in the first ever eMLS Cup in April from Boston at the PAX EAST gaming festival, with the winners heading to the EA Sports Global Series Playoffs and then eventually to the eWorld Cup.
Teams partaking in the events will decided at their own will on how to select a player from each region.
βThis 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,β MLS Business Ventures President and Managing Director Gary Stevenson said.
Other teams that decided to take part in the competitive league are the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew SC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, Minnesota United FC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, and Sporting Kansas City. Atlanta United, D.C. United, Los Angeles FC and Real Salt Lake elected not to take part.
New York City FC has already signed PlayStation 4 player Chris Holly, and locked up Joey Calabro for their Xbox One squad.
128 of the best in the world will move onto two playoff events, and 32 players will qualify for the eWorld Cup 2018 Grand Final that goes in August.
(h/t TSN.ca)
