By Sagar V. Mankar 
France is set to host two major gaming championships in 2025, with both Rocket League and Fortnite tournaments taking place in Lyon this September.
The prestigious events will unfold across consecutive weekends at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, showcasing some of the world’s best competitive gamers.
According to BLAST, the tournament organizer, the Fortnite Global Championship will kick off the action on September 6-7, followed by the Rocket League World Championship from September 9-14.
The Fortnite tournament features 33 teams battling for their share of a $2 million prize pool. Teams must prove their worth by securing top positions in three Major competitions throughout the year to earn their spot in the championship.
Meanwhile, the Rocket League championship will feature 20 teams each with 3 players competing for $1.2 million in prizes. 16 teams will earn their spot by cumulating RLCS points for the entire 2025 season in each region while four spots get through Last-Chance Qualifier teams.
This car-football game event will have two gameplay modes: Traditional 3v3 and 1v1. The 3v3 event will have three stages: a Play-In, a Group Stage, and Playoffs, while the 1v1 event will pit the Raleigh Major and Birmingham Major winners against each other in a Best-of-7 Finals matchup.
The entire Rocket League competitive season will offer a total prize pool of $5 million, distributed across various events throughout the year.
For gaming fans planning to attend, ticket sales will begin with a pre-sale period starting February 10, 2025, at 10 AM CET, followed by general admission tickets available from February 12. Prices range from €75 to €225 for all-weekend access, while the premium “Ultimate Experience Package” costs €450, offering perks like exclusive meet-and-greets and trophy photo opportunities.
This double-header gaming event continues a tradition established in 2024, when both championships were successfully held at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The previous year saw Team BDS triumph in Rocket League, while the duo of Peter ‘Peterbot’ Kata and Miguel ‘Pollo’ Moreno claimed victory in Fortnite. Notably, 7 former world champions in Rocket League Worlds history have emerged from the French gaming community.
France’s selection as the host nation reflects its growing importance in the esports landscape. Since announcing plans for a national esports ecosystem in 2023, the country has hosted several major gaming events, including a Counter-Strike Major in Paris and the LEC Season Finals in Montpellier.
The nation’s commitment to esports is further demonstrated, as Paris prepares to host VALORANT Champions while Nice welcomes the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) for its first-ever European event in October.