eSports
FIFA launches new commercial partnership structure including dedicated programs for women’s football and esports
For the first time since 2013, FIFA is introducing a new commercial partnership structure that will provide companies around the world with more tailored opportunities to partner with the sport of football, leverage the FIFA brand and support its competitions.
Three distinct partnership verticals are being launched this week with a range of packages available across Women’s football, Men’s Football and esports/gaming.
Kay Madati, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “As we continually work to make football truly global, accessible and inclusive, we recognised the need for a nimble and customisable commercial structure that enables brands big and small, global and local, to connect with all aspects of the beautiful game. The new model will allow our partners to create more tailored programming and marketing activations that align directly with their strategic business goals, and connect them to the world’s most passionate fans, in the world’s most engaging sport.”
First dedicated commercial program for Women’s football launched to accelerate growth and equality of the women’s game Building on FIFA’s Women’s Football strategy unveiled in 2018, the launch of a dedicated women’s football commercial vertical marks another step in FIFA’s commitment to make football more equitable and accessible for women and girls. Partners in this new vertical will be able to directly impact and support the growth and development of the women’s game. Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer commented, “This marks a groundbreaking moment to maximize the growth of the women’s game and its marketing appeal, as we create equal commercial models across Women’s and Men’s Football for the first time. We’re excited about the opportunities for brands who want to support women’s sport, help accelerate women’s equality, and wish to align themselves with the unparalleled momentum around women’s football.’’
An exciting new era in football gaming and esports with FIFAe Vertical As FIFA continues to broaden its esports and gaming footprint, a dedicated partnerships structure will provide exciting opportunities to participate in the fastest growing media vertical on the planet. FIFAe – the recently launched umbrella brand for all of FIFA’s future esports and gaming initiatives – grants access to the interactive and immersive entertainment world of new generations, cultures, tournaments, and merchandising licensing opportunities.
FIFA’s New Commercial Structure At-A-Glance A flexible partnership model will exist across the new distinct verticals for Women’s Football, Men’s Football, and esports/gaming.
-
World Cup Partners/Women’s Football Partners/FIFAe Partners will receive extensive global commercial rights across all national team tournaments within their respective vertical, or a premium position across all esports competitions for the FIFAe vertical
-
Sponsors will receive global activation rights surrounding the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the FIFA World Cup and/or across all FIFAe competitions
-
Tournament Supporters will be able to select territorial activation rights for either the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the FIFA World Cup or the FIFAe competitions. A more flexible Tournament Supporters program is now available for women’s and men’s development tournaments such as the FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups
-
FIFA Partners continue to hold the highest level of association with global partner status and category exclusivity across their respective FIFA properties and competitions
-
FIFA’s new commercial approach will enable brands to benefit from new opportunities to associate with FIFA’s brand to build and accelerate new business opportunities as well as create community and purpose-driven programs.
Vasista Esports rolled to a spectacular finish after a nail-biting grand finals of the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 – BGMI. The team secured the title by taking down India’s top 16 teams in the Sky Surge and Grand Finals, which took place from May 15 to 18. The Skyesports Championship is India’s longest-running homegrown esports IP, and the 2025 BGMI edition saw hundreds of teams participate in the open qualifiers for a shot at the title and a share of the INR 17.5 lakhs prize pool.
With its exciting format, long legacy, and top teams competing, the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025, powered by AMD with associate partners WD_BLACK and GIGABYTE accumulated 30 million views from broadcast and 40 million through VOD views for a total 70 million viewership.
Vasista Esports have been in red-hot form throughout the tournament. After emerging on top in the Upper Bracket, the team entered the Grand Finals as one of the favorites – and they didn’t disappoint. With a dominant performance, they accumulated 169 points, 32 ahead of second-placed Autobotz Esports.
The iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 featured a unique format in the Grand Finals with the introduction of the Sky Champ format—a first in the history of BGMI esports.
As part of this, May 15 featured the Sky Surge, based on which teams received bonus points for the 3-day Grand Finals from May 16 to 18. Vasista placed 14th in the Sky Surge, earning no bonus points and needing to climb the rankings from scratch.
In the Grand Finals, teams needed to reach 125 points to become Sky Champ point eligible. Once eligible, a team had to secure a WWCD (Winner Winner Chicken Dinner) to be crowned champions. This format ensured every match remained crucial, even as Vasista built a strong lead in the points table.
Ultimately, no team was able to secure a WWCD after becoming Sky Champ point eligible. As a result, Vasista Esports were crowned champions after 18 matches, based on their overall points as they remained consistent and aggressive.
A visibly emotional Sohail “Hector” Shaikh from Vasista Esports, who is also credited with building the winning lineup, said in a post-tournament interview, “A lot of people doubted me. A lot has happened in my life over the past 10 months, but I finally got the opportunity to prove myself. I’m grateful to my team. Our next target: winning the official BMPS 2025.”
The iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 recorded over 100,000 peak concurrent viewers and more than 30 million total livestream views—highlighting the excitement around India’s premier homegrown esports IP.
Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “First of all – congratulations to Hector and Vasista Esports for their dominant performance, not just in the Grand Finals, but throughout the tournament. Their resilience and high-tier performance kept us on the edge of our seats. With more than 30 million livestream views so far, it showcases the growth and attention of our premium esports property. Lastly, thanks to our partners in iQOO, AMD, Western Digital, GIGABYTE, and Red Bull for making this tournament possible.”
With its thrilling format, record-breaking numbers, and fresh champions, the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 has once again cemented itself as a landmark event in Indian esports.
The overall standings is as follows:
1. Vasista Esports – 169 points
2. Autobotz Esports – 137 points
3. Learn From Past – 135 points
4. Wyld Fangs – 125 points
5. Team iQOOSoul – 114 points
6. Blitz Esports – 112 points
7. RivalryxRNRi – 110 points
8. Team iQOO 8Bit – 97 points
9. 4Merical Esports – 97 points
10. Money Makerz – 96 points
11. True Rippers – 95 points
12. Team Versatile – 92 points
13. OnePlus Cincinnati Kids – 91 points
14. Rising Inferno Esports – 77 points
15. OnePlus Gods Reign – 62 points
16. Alibaba Raiders – 57 points
The post Vasista Esports Crowned Champions of the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 – BGMI appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Yurikov is a Peruvian-American competitor with over a decade of experience in the global fighting game circuit. Competing professionally since 2012, he first rose to prominence in titles like The King of Fighters and Guilty Gear Strive, and has since made a successful transition into Fatal Fury, carrying with him a legacy of consistency, adaptability, and competitive drive.
He has played over 400 matches and his tournament victories span multiple fighting games, including Summer Jam 2023, South Louisiana Major 2023, and Heat Wave 2022 – Northeast Championship 22. Now under the S8UL banner, Yurikov will represent India’s top esports organisation at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, as well as other international fighting game tournaments throughout the year.
“From solo queues to the big leagues. Joining S8UL is a whole new chapter. I’ve always moved with purpose- now it’s time to do it with a team that shares the vision. Let’s make history,” stated Marcoantonio “Yurikov” Malpica.
S8UL’s move into Fatal Fury follows a series of high-impact signings across multiple titles including Apex Legends, Call of Duty (COD) Warzone, Chess, EAFC25, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), Starcraft II and Tekken 8. While S8UL is already known for dominating the mobile esports and content space, this entry into Fatal Fury represents yet another step in its ambition to build a truly global, multi-genre esports legacy.
“Esports is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead means not just following trends, but setting them. At S8UL, we’ve always believed in backing talent that can lead across eras, not just tournaments.” said Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL. “Been watching Yurikov cook for a while — always knew he was built different. Welcome to the family, hermano.”
EWC 2025 will witness 16 of the world’s best Fatal Fury players battle it out for a share of the massive $1 million (approx. INR 8.5 crore) prize pool from July 10 to 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With this announcement, S8UL has now unveiled rosters across all eight titles that they will be competing in at EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows:
Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
Fatal Fury: Marcoantonio Malpica (Yurikov)
Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1)
Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)
The post S8UL steps into the Fatal Fury arena with the signing of fighting games veteran Yurikov appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
S8UL acquires North America’s leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025
S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK). With this move, S8UL makes a historic entry into the MLBB competitive circuit, becoming the first Indian organisation to sign a top-tier international MLBB roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and other major tournaments.
The roster joining S8UL comprises:
– Michael “MobaZane” Cosgun
– Ian “FwydChickn” Hohl
– Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun
– Ziameth-Jei “ZIA” Caluya
– Vo “Shark” Trung
– Carlos “Bestplayer1” Ortega Vega
Founded in 2020, BTK rose to international prominence after their third-place finish at the MLBB M3 World Championship, where they notably defeated the Filipino powerhouse Blacklist International, taking home $80,000 (INR 68.4 lakh). Since then, the team has been a consistent force in North America’s MLBB ecosystem, with multiple regional championship wins and strong global performances to their name.
The roster officially qualified for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the upcoming EWC 2025 following a dominant run in the recently concluded North America Challenger Tournament (NACT) Spring Season, where they defeated Area 77 in the Grand Finals with a 4-2 scoreline.
With players who have competed across multiple MLBB world championships, S8UL’s newest roster brings immense experience and proven ability to perform under pressure. This acquisition marks a milestone moment for Indian esports, positioning S8UL at the forefront of global competition in one of the world’s most watched mobile esports titles.
Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented, “We’re committing to MLBB in a big way — becoming a partnered organization and aligning closely with the S8UL vision, with the legendary Michael ‘MobaZane’ Cosgun leading the charge. As a mobile-first org, MLBB holds a special place for us — it’s the only mobile title among the eight games we’re part of. The game’s growth in India is promising, and we’re excited to contribute to its rise by working closely with key Indian stakeholders. This is just the beginning of what we aim to build with MLBB”
The team’s previous accolades include a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Gaimin Gladiators in the NACT Spring Finals and an unforgettable reverse sweep against Cloud9 in the NACT Fall 2024 Grand Finals, turning a 0-3 deficit into a thrilling 4-3 win. That comeback secured their place at the M6 World Championship, where they went on to finish in the top 10. Collectively, the roster has earned close to $150,000 (approx. INR 1.2 crore) in prize winnings, establishing themselves as one of the most accomplished MLBB teams in North America.
“We’ve been on a long journey together, from grassroots tournaments to the world stage, and every chapter has shaped who we are as a team. Joining S8UL feels like the beginning of something bigger than just competition. It’s about aligning with an organisation that understands not just the game, but the grind, the setbacks, and the stories that build champions. We’re not here just to play, we’re here to evolve, to represent, and to create a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies. With S8UL behind us, we now have the platform to take that next big leap.” said team captain Michael Cosgun aka MobaZane.
According to data from Esports Charts, MLBB is the world’s most popular esports game in 2025, with a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The M6 World Championship held last year recorded an impressive peak viewership of 4.13 million and maintained an average viewership of 709,000 across its 120-hour broadcast, making it one of the largest and most-watched esports tournaments of 2024.
At EWC 2025, 16 of the world’s top MLBB teams will compete in double elimination group stages and best-of-5 knockout rounds which will culminate in a best-of-7 grand final. With a $3,000,000 (approx. INR 25.6 crore) prize pool on the line, this year’s MSC is set to be one of the biggest mobile esports events in history.
S8UL’s MLBB roster brings a balanced mix of experience and synergy across all roles. MobaZane leads as the Jungler, with FwydChickn in the EXP Lane and Hoon anchoring the Mid Lane. ZIA handles the Gold Lane, while Shark plays Roamer, driving team engagements. Bestplayer1 adds depth as a second Jungler, offering strategic flexibility for different matchups.
With this announcement, S8UL has now unveiled rosters across seven different titles for EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows:
Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
EAFC25: Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy)
Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1)
Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)
The post S8UL acquires North America’s leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Asia4 weeks agoJetapult Strengthens AI Expertise: Onboards Industry Leaders, Oz Silahtar and Dr. Arjun Jain
-
Africa3 weeks ago
Association of Gaming Operators in Kenya Announces New Regulations
-
Press Releases3 weeks ago
Swintt stacks up a pyramid of wins in Egypt King Pearl Upgrade
-
Press Releases4 weeks ago
Colour the world your way in Supa Crew by Swintt’s Elysium Studios
-
Conferences in Europe4 weeks ago
Altenar Steps in as General Sponsor of EEGS 2025
-
Compliance Updates3 weeks ago
MGCB Targets 11 Illegal Online Casinos Operating Without Licenses
-
Africa4 weeks ago
Gaming Corps Expands African Presence with KingMakers Partnership
-
Cancún3 weeks ago
CONCEPT AND NEW GAMES REVOLUTIONIZE PALACE BINGO & SPORTS BETS IN CANCÚN
