Major League Soccer (MLS) has selected ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to operate the 2026 eMLS Cup, the league’s premier esports competition built around EA SPORTS FC. The partnership places one of the industry’s most established tournament operators in charge of the competition’s full operational pipeline—from the initial qualification phase to the live finals.
Under the agreement, EFG will manage tournament operations and broadcast production, culminating in a studio final held at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The event will determine which competitors advance to the EA FC World Championship, the highest tier of competitive play in EA’s football simulation ecosystem.
The competition structure begins with participation from all 30 MLS clubs, each of which will designate a player to represent their organization. According to the announcement, EFG will run a non-broadcasted Online Swiss Tournament on March 7–8 to determine the top competitors.
Only the eight highest-performing players from that phase will advance to the final stage.
Those finalists—referred to as the “Elite Eight”—will travel to Columbus for a two-day residency program, including a media day and a live studio broadcast where the champion will be crowned on April 12. In addition to the eMLS Cup title, the finalists will compete for qualification slots in the EA FC World Championship, the global culmination of the EA SPORTS FC Pro circuit.
EFG framed the partnership as an opportunity to apply its operational and broadcast infrastructure to MLS’s esports ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to partner with Major League Soccer to bring the eMLS Cup to life,” said Adam Apicella, SVP Esports at ESL FACEIT Group. “Our team is dedicated to providing a professional, competitive environment that honors the prestige of the MLS badge while delivering a high-caliber broadcast for the EA FC community. Bringing the finals to our Columbus studio allows us to put these elite players on the stage they deserve.”
MLS leadership emphasized the role esports plays in expanding the league’s engagement with younger audiences.
“eMLS is a vital part of how Major League Soccer connects with our young, digitally native fans,” said Chris Blivin, MLS Vice President of Consumer Products. “Partnering with EFG to operate eMLS Cup ensures that our competition is managed with the highest level of expertise. We look forward to seeing the best in North America compete in Columbus for a chance to represent MLS on the world stage.”