FIFA Interactive World Cup to Kick Off in Johannesburg

The very first FIFA Interactive World Cup is held in Johannesburg South Africa. The inaugural edition of this new FIFA competition, consisting of eight qualifying events and a final tournament, is taking place across all continents between 23 October and December this year, offering football fans the chance to win ultimate video-game bragging rights as FIFA Interactive World Player 2004, a title never before given to anyone in the world. The final will be played in Zurich on 19 December 2004, with the winner receiving the FIFA Interactive World Player 2004 award at the FIFA World Player Gala the following day. The best football gamers from all corners of each continent will go head-to-head on the EA Sports FIFA 2005 game on Xbox. Between heats, players will have the chance to participate in real-life football drills as well as tips and tricks sessions with international football experts. Additionally, a host of guest appearances, prizes and musical surprises are also planned. The first ever FIFA-sanctioned competition of this kind offers fans around the world the opportunity to show off their gaming skills and indulge their passion for football. The launch of this new FIFA event marks an important milestone in the 100-year history of world football's governing body and signifies a further step towards strengthening ties with the ever-growing community of video-gamers worldwide. 'The FIFA Interactive World Cup unites the passion for sports competitions with the world of interactive entertainment - we are greatly looking forward to this new, officially endorsed FIFA tournament. Gamers will be battling it out for an official FIFA award that places interactive football in the same bracket as its offline parent,' said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. 'We are pleased that we will be able to pay tribute to a completely new category of football player and fan at this year's FIFA World Player Gala.' This groundbreaking move allows FIFA to acknowledge the extraordinary and diverse spread of football, particularly in the virtual world where it has made huge strides in recent years. With the help of this innovative project, FIFA can now explore further opportunities to promote and develop the game of football at all levels worldwide, while also saluting a new range of football games and testing football players' virtual abilities in a completely new way. FIFA World Cup Licensees Electronic Arts and Xbox have teamed up to support FIFA in the realization of the FIFA Interactive World Cup. Electronic Arts has a close association with the game of football, having developed the very successful range of FIFA games launched in 1993 and currently in its 12th edition with FIFA 2005.