Konami, FIFA Collaborate: India Makes Debut In FIFAe World Cup

eFootball has been officially included in the FIFAe World Cup, following a partnership between FIFA and Konami, making an opportunity for India's gaming community to compete on a global level. This marks the first year that the country will participate in the tournament alongside other footballing nations.

The FIFAe World Cup will feature eFootball, Konami’s football simulation game, along with titles like Rocket League and Football Manager. In this inaugural year of participation, India is one of 18 countries invited to compete, joining nations such as Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain, and Portugal. Athletes from each nation will compete in finals later this year on both mobile and console platforms.

India's gaming landscape is predominantly mobile, with 96.8 per cent of gamers using smartphones or tablets, as mentioned in the India Games Market Report 2023 by Niko Partners. The report projects that the total number of gamers across all platforms in India could reach 641.2 million by 2027. With eFootball available for free download, Indian gamers have an accessible entry point into competitive play, allowing them to develop their skills without financial barriers.

Industry leaders see this inclusion as a pivotal moment for the esports scene in India. Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, noted that the free-to-play nature of eFootball promotes wider participation. He remarked on the significance of this collaboration between FIFA and Konami, emphasising its potential impact on the esports ecosystem in India.

The game will also be part of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's upcoming WAVES Esports Championship 2025 (WESC). Animesh Agarwal, known as 8Bit Thug and Co-founder of S8UL and 8Bit Creatives, commented on India's recognition in this global esports tournament. He pointed out that this partnership opens opportunities for both mobile and console gamers, further supported by official tournaments like WAVES 2025.

Earlier this year, Konami reported that eFootball has surpassed 700 million downloads globally. While India has a strong interest in football, it has not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup. With qualifiers for eFootball underway, the country’s esports athletes now have a chance to represent India on an international stage. The FIFAe World Cup qualifiers are currently in progress, providing Indian gamers the opportunity to compete for a place in the global tournament.

As per reports, in 2024, the revenue in the Esports market is forecasted to reach USD 124.8 million. This market is expected to experience a steady annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 6.92 per cent, resulting in a projected market volume of USD 174.4 million by 2029. Among the various segments, Esports Betting emerges as the largest market with a volume of USD 90.8 million in 2024. Forecasts predicted that in 2025, the revenue would peak to 11 billion Indian rupees, with a viewership of 85 million viewers across 20 different eSports streaming platforms.

The user penetration rate is anticipated to be 8.6 per cent, which is projected to increase to 9.8 per cent by 2029. Furthermore, the average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to be USD 1.01. These figures depict the substantial growth and potential within the Esports market, including its significance in the country of India. The Indian Esports market is experiencing exponential growth, with a surge in popularity among the younger generation.