By Sagar V. Mankar After the thrilling conclusion of the first FC Pro season, where Vejrgang of RBLZ Gaming claimed the title of the inaugural FC Pro World Champion, EA Sports wasted no time in announcing the second season of the FC Pro tournament.
This next season promises to bring even more excitement and intense competition to the world of football eSports.
Building on last year’s success, EA SPORTS has decided to retain much of the structure from the first season but with some key improvements based on player feedback.
One of the most significant changes is the addition of more qualifying opportunities for the FC Pro World Championship. Last season, many players expressed concerns about the limited chances to qualify for the championship if they missed out during the main events. To address this, EA Sports will introduce additional FC Pro Open Cups in November, December, and January, providing players with more chances to reach the World Championship Play-Ins.
The upcoming season will feature EA’s latest game, FC 25, set to launch on September 27 across various consoles, including Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
What Changes Can Players Expect in the New Season?
While maintaining the core structure that proved successful, FC Pro is introducing some key improvements based on player feedback:
- Enhanced Path to World Championship: Players who miss out on the FC Pro Open will now have an opportunity to advance through the FC Pro World Championship Play-Ins.
- Expanded FC Pro Open: The number of participants in the main competition has increased to 24 players, up from last season.
- Additional FC Pro Open Cup: A new cup has been added to provide more opportunities for players to compete for World Championship spots.
Overall The New Season Includes:
- FC Pro Open: A $1 million open circuit across ten regions on PlayStation 5.
- FC Pro Open Cups: A new format offering additional pathways to the World Championship Play-ins.
- FC Pro Leagues: An invite-only circuit for professional players representing iconic football clubs.
- FC Pro World Championship: The ultimate event featuring 32 of the best players globally, competing for a $1 million prize pool.
FC Pro Open Tournament Structure
The tournament kicks off on October 1 with the FC Pro Open Ladder stage, marking the beginning of a new season for aspiring champions. Here’s a breakdown of the FC Pro Open Tournament schedule:
- Ultimate Team Rivals: Players must reach Division 3 on PlayStation 5 to access the FC Pro game mode.
- FC Pro Open Ladder (Oct 1-7, 2024): This stage determines who advances to the Regional Qualifier.
- FC Pro Open Regional Qualifier (Oct 12-13): Top performers from each region compete for spots in the Global Qualifier.
- FC Pro Open Global Qualifier (Nov 1-3): 64 competitors battle for 16 spots in the FC Pro Open regular season.
- FC Pro Open Regular Season:
- 24 players divided into four groups of six (16 from the Global Qualifier, 4 from last season’s FC Pro Open, and 4 from the World Championship).
- Weekly matches from Nov 25, 2024, to Jan 27, 2025.
- The winner directly secures a World Championship seat.
The total prize pool of $1,000,000 will be spread across the FC Pro Open, Global Qualifier, and Cups. Last season, FC Pro Open attracted over 100,000 live viewers and millions more on social media.
Players aiming to compete in the FC Pro Open must register for the season on fcpro.com, with registration starting in September.
FC Pro Open Cups and Play-Ins
EA Sports has added an extra FC Pro Open Cup to give players more chances to qualify for the FC Pro World Championship.
Here, players can collect points based on their performance. By January’s end, those with the highest points from each region will receive invitations to the FC Pro World Championship Play-Ins.
Each FC Pro Open Cup will have a corresponding FC Pro Open Ladder, qualifying top finishers for the cups. The cups will follow a Swiss to Single Elimination format.
Ladder Dates:
- November 5th-11th
- December 1st-9th
- January 5th-13th
Cup Dates:
- November 16th-17th
- December 14th-15th
- January 18th-19th
FC Pro World Championship Play-Ins:
Eligible players include:
- 28 players from FC Pro Open Cups.
- Approximately 20 players from select FC Pro Leagues.
The FC Pro World Championship Play-Ins will be the final chance for players to qualify for the main event. Four players from the Play-Ins will join the top names in FC Pro.
FC Pro World Championship:
Eligible players include:
- 8 players from FC Pro Open.
- 20 players from FC Pro Leagues.
- 4 players from Play-Ins.
The best players from across the FC Pro ecosystem will compete to crown the World Champion and claim their share of the $1,000,000 prize pool.
For more details, visit the official website and stay tuned for updates!