eSports
KONAMI ANNOUNCES NEW ITALIAN ESPORTS TOURNAMENT COMING TO eFootball™

Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. announced the launch of a brand new esports tournament – the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’. This is a new tournament based in Italy which will see the integration of eFootball™ partner clubs, their youth players, professional esports players, and – most importantly – their fans.
What is the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’?
The ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ represents a new esports venture for KONAMI and the football simulation gaming arena. The tournament will see the integration of three different players forming a team to represent each of the competing clubs. These are: A selected Youth team player; A professional esports player currently part of their existing squad; A club fan who wins an online qualification tournament.
This unique team composition of elite and grassroots esports players alongside the youth selection sees a melding of club representatives unlike anything seen on the current football simulation esports landscape.
Seven eFootball™ partner clubs to be involved
KONAMI is delighted to announce that all seven of its eFootball™ partner clubs based in Italy will be taking part in the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’. These will include AC Milan, AC Monza, AS Roma, Atalanta BC, FC Internazionale Milano, SS Lazio, and SSC Napoli.
How the competition will work
Prior to the seven clubs taking each other on for the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ title, there be the selection processes for their three representatives.
Firstly, each club will hold an internal esports tournament between their Youth team players to determine a representative. This will come alongside a seminar from the KONAMI eFootball Activations team providing an insight into the ever-evolving world of esports and video gaming.
Secondly, there will also be an internal tournament at each club between their respective esports players to determine who will represent them as part of the tripartite.
Thirdly, eFootball™ will run an online in-game tournament for all gamers within Italy called the ‘KONAMICI’ this will be an Italian-only event within eFootball™ 2023. Players can register to compete online with the tournament lasting two weeks in total.
Players do not have to have played eFootball™ prior to this and can participate with no experience of the game. Each club fan can register online and select the club which they hope to represent.
From here, they will play a minimum of 30 online matches against fellow club fans, collecting points as they progress before the online ranking determines the top representatives.
The KONAMICI will take place only on Playstation®4 and Playstation®5 devices and will be free-to-play.
Tournament Schedule
The ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ is a new form of esports competition with many different elements coming together to bring it to life. The qualification and selection for club representative squads and then the consequential tournament will occur in stages between December 2022 and April 2023.
The KONAMICI qualification phase will commence in February, allowing all seven participating clubs to gain their fan representative with final knockouts concluding by the end of March 2023.
Once each of the clubs has confirmed its three-person team, there will be an offline Group Stage phase where the clubs will play each other to determine their positions in their respective groups. This will be broadcast from the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ studio. This stage will affect the draw for the knock-out phase at the Grand Finals weekend later in April.
Finally, with group positions secured, clubs will be drawn against each other for the Quarter Finals. From here, it will be a straight knock-out tournament with two Semi Finals, a Third-place play-off (between the two clubs who lose their respective Semi Finals), and a Grand Final.
The Grand Finals weekend will be an offline, live event hosted at Napoli ComicCon on the weekend of the 22nd-23rd April.
The victorious club will take home a Grand Prize including a specialised eFootball™ multi-media and gaming centre to be installed at their youth training complex.
Throughout the tournament, there will also be a set of episodes of what is to be known as ‘eFootball™TV’ available on the official eFootball™ Youtube channel, recorded in the aforementioned ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ studio.
These will include analysis and highlights from the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’, interviews with the players, appearances from partner club players and legends, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective giving fans an all-access view into how eFootball™ works and how the ‘Coppa eFootball Italia’ was brought to life.
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
eWear launches aim.one – the world’s first functional gaming wear for esports athletes and gaming-fans

From hoodies to short-sleeved jerseys: the entire collection has been developed to meet the specific needs of gamers – uncompromising, highest-quality and thought-out down to the last detail.
“There is the right functional clothing for every sport – for soccer, tennis, golf… Gaming used to have this gap. Not anymore!”, say the founders.
The debut collection features 4 products and thus offers the right piece for all gamers: hoodie, longsleeve, shirt and pants. Each combines innovative functionality with comfort and style. Smart gadgets – including special ventilation zones, padding and other features to promote reaction, focus and grip – make this clothing a real support in the game.
Developed from the ground up specifically for playing at a PC, “aim.one is for everyone who wants to take their gaming to the next level – from high-end eSports pros to hobby gamers,” say the founders. “With this collection, gamers finally get their own clothing tailored to their passion!”
The product launch will take place via Kickstarter on the 5th of August!
Until launch, Gamers can unlock MVP status for only a €/$1 donation. This grants up to 35% discount during the campaign — plus a free nickname print on their apparel.
The post eWear launches aim.one – the world’s first functional gaming wear for esports athletes and gaming-fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Stake strikes international esports partnership with Team Vitality

-
Team Vitality is proud to unveil a landmark multi-year partnership with Stake, the world’s leading online casino and sportsbook platform, in a major seven-figure agreement.
-
As the official international betting partner of Team Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 roster, Stake will benefit from a comprehensive activation plan: prominent jersey placement, high-impact brand campaigns across social media, innovative content production, and exclusive access to players.
-
Unveiled at IEM Cologne 2025, one of the most prestigious events on the Counter-Strike calendar, the partnership marks a new chapter in Stake’s ongoing expansion into esports. It also highlights the increasing appeal of the industry to global brands seeking visibility, high-value engagement, and premium positioning on the international stage.
Team Vitality today announces a major multi-year agreement with Stake, a global leader in the betting and gaming sector. Through this partnership, Stake becomes the official international partner of Team Vitality’s CS2 team, with the ambition of establishing a strong presence in the esports ecosystem. The two organisations will collaborate on exclusive content and bold creative activations. First stop: IEM Cologne, where the team will debut its new jersey featuring Stake’s branding at one of the most iconic events in competitive Counter-Strike.
With this collaboration, Team Vitality joins the ranks of established global sports such as Formula 1, MMA, and football, solidifying its place in the mainstream sports landscape and taking another step forward in the global recognition of esports.
STAKE JOINS FORCES WITH THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD
This alliance comes at a landmark moment for Team Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 roster, which has made history this year by winning multiple consecutive titles, including the prestigious ESL Grand Slam and Blast Austin Major last month. Recognised as a global powerhouse in the CS2 scene, the team embodies a culture of bold ambition, elite performance, and the thrill of competition – values shared by Stake. This partnership brings together two brands that place intensity and excellence at the core of their identity.
Stake will play a key role in supporting the CS2 roster throughout the world’s most prominent international competitions. First, the brand will be featured across Team Vitality CS’s digital platforms. Second, the two brands will co-create premium content activations and provide fans with exclusive player access year-round. Lastly, Stake’s logo will appear on the front and left collarbone of the team’s official jersey.
PARTNERSHIP KICKS OFF IN COLOGNE
As the reigning champions of last year’s tournament, Team Vitality is launching this partnership at a pivotal moment in the competitive calendar. IEM Cologne is one of the most iconic and widely followed tournaments on the Counter-Strike circuit, with the 2024 edition attracting over one million viewers – making it the second most-watched CS event of the year.
This event gathers a passionate global audience and provides a powerful platform to associate Stake with the highest level of competition and emotion. It is a strategic opportunity to activate the partnership during a peak moment of tension, spectacle, and performance – creating a strong, authentic connection between the brand, the team, and Vitality fans worldwide.
“This partnership with Stake is historic: not only for its scale but also for its symbolic value. It reflects the success of our ambition to establish Team Vitality as a leading global esports brand, alongside the biggest names in their respective industries. At a defining point in our Counter-Strike journey, this collaboration will allow us to create innovative experiences, offer exclusive content around our team, and support our CS2 roster as it reaches new competitive heights,” said Vas Roberts, co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“This partnership brings together two industry powerhouses: Stake, a global leader in betting and entertainment, and Team Vitality, the reigning CS2 world champions. This collaboration adds esports to our globally renowned portfolio of sports and entertainment partnerships, with Team Vitality representing exactly the caliber of world-class partner we seek as we enter the esports arena,” said Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake.
The post Stake strikes international esports partnership with Team Vitality appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025

NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports and gaming company, has announced that Sony LIV has acquired the Hindi and English language media rights for select matches of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, further amplifying the tournament’s reach and representation across India.
As part of the partnership, Sony LIV will stream select matches from the Esports World Cup in India, bringing the action to millions of fans in languages they resonate with. The Hindi-language broadcast will be available exclusively on the Sony LIV app and official website.
In addition, Sony LIV will also stream the weekly shows, behind-the-scenes features and player interactions spotlighting EWC athletes and teams, curated for both core and casual esports audiences. This collaboration follows NODWIN Gaming’s recent partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights and regional distribution across South Asia.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Our goal is to bring the Esports World Cup to as many passionate fans across South Asia as possible, and this partnership with Sony LIV is a major step in that direction. It combines Sony LIV’s incredible reach with NODWIN’s focus on building localized, fan-first esports experiences. With both Hindi and premium English content, we are creating a viewing experience that feels personal, immersive, and truly regional.”
With the addition of Sony LIV as the exclusive Hindi broadcast partner and NODWIN Gaming as the strategic regional media and marketing partner, the EWC is poised to reach unprecedented heights in South Asia. This aligns with the mission of making esports more inclusive, accessible and locally relevant.
With top-tier Indian talent competing across multiple titles, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents a unique opportunity to showcase India’s growing presence in global esports and to unite audiences around a shared national dream.
The post NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Africa7 days ago
Altenar appoints Brendon Jeacocks as Regional Director in South Africa
-
Aquisitions/Mergers7 days ago
Pavilion Payments Acquires CasinoSoft
-
Africa6 days ago
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00)
-
Betpro7 days ago
Kambi Group plc signs Turnkey Sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap
-
Australia5 days ago
Unibet Expands Partnership with Sydney Roosters to Support NRLW Team
-
EurAsia6 days ago
Groove Technologies Partners with “Azərlotereya” OJSC to Revolutionise Digital Gaming Experience
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
MC Games Announces Ombudsman Channel for User Questions
-
Africa7 days ago
TigonBet Enters Kenya’s Betting Market