RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — The FIFAe Finals 25 concluded with a landmark moment in global esports, as France claimed the FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League, cementing its status as the world’s leading football-esports nation and bringing a spectacular eight-day celebration of competition, culture, and digital sport to a close.
Held from 10 to 19 December 2025 at Riyadh’s state-of-the-art SEF Arena, the FIFAe Finals 25 represented the most ambitious edition of the tournament to date — both in scale and global reach — and showcased FIFA’s rapidly expanding vision for esports as a pillar of football’s future.
🇫🇷 France’s Defining Moment on the World Stage
France’s Rocket League trio — Zen, Vatira and Juicy — delivered a commanding performance throughout the competition, culminating in a decisive final victory over host nation Saudi Arabia, the reigning champions. Their triumph reflected not only individual brilliance but also tactical cohesion, adaptability under pressure, and elite mechanical skill — hallmarks of top-tier Rocket League competition.
The victory marked a historic milestone for France, reinforcing its dominance across football esports disciplines and highlighting the country’s deep talent pipeline and competitive infrastructure in gaming.
🎮 A Festival of Football Esports Excellence
The FIFAe Finals 25 went far beyond a single championship. Over the course of the event:
- 250 matches were played across multiple titles
- USD 450,000 in prize money was contested
- 94 nations participated in the qualification pathway
- Millions of fans engaged via live streams, social media and in-arena experiences
Three world champions were crowned, reflecting the diversity and inclusivity of football esports:
- France — FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League
- Poland — FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball™ Console
- Thailand — FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball™ Mobile
This multi-title format underscored FIFAe’s ambition to unify football esports under a single global framework while embracing different platforms and player communities.
🌍 National Identity Meets Digital Competition
Unlike traditional club-based esports tournaments, FIFAe’s national-team structure introduces a powerful dimension of identity, pride and representation. Players compete not just for personal glory or organisations, but for their countries — a format that mirrors FIFA’s traditional competitions and resonates deeply with fans.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström described the event as a reflection of football’s evolving ecosystem, noting that FIFAe Finals 25 connected “the next generation of fans with the world’s game through competition, culture and technology.”
🏟️ Riyadh as a Global Esports Hub
The successful hosting of FIFAe Finals 25 further strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position as a global esports destination, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader strategy to become a leader in gaming, digital entertainment and international sporting events.
Packed arenas, immersive fan zones and high-production broadcasts demonstrated how esports events can rival traditional sports in atmosphere and engagement — particularly when supported by national representation and world-class infrastructure.
🚀 FIFAe and the Future of Football Entertainment
France’s Rocket League triumph comes at a pivotal moment for FIFAe. As football’s governing body expands its digital footprint, esports is increasingly viewed as:
- A gateway to younger, digitally native audiences
- A platform for global participation beyond physical barriers
- A complementary pillar to traditional football competitions
By integrating Rocket League and eFootball into its official ecosystem, FIFA is redefining how football is played, watched and experienced in the digital age.
🏆 More Than a Trophy
France’s victory at FIFAe Finals 25 is more than a championship win — it symbolises the maturation of football esports into a globally respected competitive arena, where skill, strategy and national pride intersect.
As the final trophy was lifted in Riyadh, FIFAe Finals 25 closed not just a tournament, but a defining chapter in the evolution of football entertainment — one where esports stands firmly alongside the world’s most beloved sport.
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Sources
- Inside FIFA — FIFAe Finals 25: France crowned Rocket League champions
https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/fifae-finals-25-france-crowned-rocket-league-champions - FIFA.gg — Three world champions crowned at FIFAe Finals 2025
https://www.fifa.gg/news/three-world-champions-crowned-at-fifae-finals-2025 - Arab News — Historic FIFAe Finals 25 conclude in Riyadh
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627009/sport - SaudiShopper — France, Poland and Thailand crowned champions at FIFAe Finals 25
