FIFA Interactive World Cup Finalized News

Microsoft, EA and FIFA today confirmed specific details on the forthcoming FIFA Interactive World Cup, the worldâ??s first ever FIFA endorsed videogame tournament.

As we previously brought you the scoop, the FIFA Interactive World Cup is a new videogame tournament combining on- and offline football matches via the forthcoming FIFA Football 2005 on Xbox and Xbox Live!

The tournament will travel to six international continents from October to December 2004, offering football fans the ultimate videogame bragging rights â?“ being named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004 â?“ along with shaping up your skills with the pros and enjoying music from leading DJâ??s and a host of other surprises.

There are four ways to enter the FIFA Interactive World Cup, which will see more than 8,000 players (plus contestants from the Xbox Live community of more than one million gamers) competing all over the world :

• Register at www.FIFAinteractiveworldcup.com
• Register on site at regional tournament venues
• Earn a place by playing FIFA Football 2005 on Xbox Live
• Win a local qualifying tournament, which will lead to the regional tournaments and ultimately to the finals in Zurich - information on local tournaments is available on the registration site

Players who have what it takes to win their region's finals will travel to the worldwide finals in Zurich in December - and the winner will be named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004. That prestigious achievement will be recognized with a trophy presented to the winner by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter at the FIFA World Player Gala.

Kicking off in October, the FIFA Interactive World Cup will travel to nine cities in six continents:

• Johannesburg - 23rd October
• New York - 30th October
• Rio de Janeiro - 6th November
• Sydney - 13th November
• London - 20th November
• Seoul - 30th November
• Paris - 4th December
• Berlin - 11th December
• Zurich (FINALS) - 19th December

As players compete to be the best player of FIFA Football 2005 at each regional final, they will also be able to sharpen their real-world football skills through various separate side activities. Contestants waiting for their turn on the tournament pods will be able to practice their moves with the help of professional football players.

The events will also feature big-name DJs performing for the crowds, as well as a host of other fun activities and some surprises too. Specific details on each event will be available at www.FIFAinteractiveworldcup.com.

"The FIFA Interactive World Cup unites the passion for sports competitions with the world of interactive entertainment - we're looking forward to this new officially endorsed FIFA tournament and to awarding the FIFA Interactive World Player 2004," said FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi. "This is an official FIFA honour that places interactive football in the same bracket as its offline parent."

"The FIFA Interactive World Cup tournaments will be a great day out for football fans everywhere," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, Xbox. "As well as experiencing the excitement of FIFA Football 2005 from EA and Xbox Live, contestants and their friends will find no shortage of other interactive and 'real-life' activities. Being named FIFA Interactive World Player 2004 is the ultimate in bragging rights and we know the competition will be fierce."

"We know FIFA Football fans are serious about their football," said Jens Uwe Intat, Vice President and Managing Director of EA's Central European Region. "The FIFA Interactive World Cup brings that passion for sports competition to the world of interactive entertainment - we're looking forward to the tournament kick off and to seeing who will be the ultimate FIFA Football champion. And in the process, a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun."

Weâ??ll have more information soon.