The eChampions League (eCL) is back, this time better and bigger than before.
EA Sports FC Pro recently announced details of an exciting and expanded eCL that will see competitors represent some of Europe’s biggest clubs on the virtual pitch.
This year’s edition of the prestigious tournament is set to take place over a full month in May, with the Grand Final being played on the 29th at Wembley Stadium in London. There is a whopping $280,000 up for grabs, with the winner walking away with a bigger share.
Also to mention, the eChampions League will feature the FC Pro Draft, just like in the FC Pro Open. This means that competitors will be required to work within a set in-game budget while choosing the player items for their squads.
With that said, let’s break down every info you need to know about eChampions League 2024, including the format, key dates and how to watch.
Format
A brand-new format of the eChampions League will see the participating players qualify through a strong domestic performance across European league partner programmes, making it look like the Champions League format. The leagues will start in February and go on until April, providing players with the opportunity to advance directly to the eChampions League Group Stage.
Below are the partner leagues that will be represented at this year’s eChampions League and the slots given to each:
- ePremier League – 4
- eSerie A – 4
- eLigue 1 – 4
- LaLiga FC Pro – 4
- WOW Virtual Bundesliga – 4
- KPN eDivisie – 4
- Ekstraklasa Games (Poland) – 2
- eFirst League (Bulgaria) – 1
- e:LIGA (Czechia) – 1
- eLiga Portugal (Portugal) – 1
- eLOI (Ireland) – 1
- Esports A-League (Lithuania) – 1
- eSüper Lig (Turkey) – 1
- Malta BOV ePremier League (Malta) – 1
- Orange eLeague (Luxembourg) – 1
Three more leagues will be invited for the competition.
The Group Stage of the eChampions League will begin on May 11 and the top 24 players will advance to the knockout stage the following week. In order to reflect the real world Champions League, the eight clubs that will make it to the Champions League quarter finals will be invited to the competition. This will be the first time that eCL will be exclusive to football clubs
Out of the teams competing in the Group Stage, 24 will advance to the knockouts stage. Eight teams from the knockout stage will then meet in the Grand Final on May 29 in London. The Final will be held in front of the biggest audience ever, with EA planning to sell over a thousand tickets.
Key Dates
Here are the key dates for the 2024 eChampions League:
May 11-12 – Group Stage
As already mentioned, the 2024 eChampions League campaign begins in February with players from Europe’s partner leagues fighting to secure their place in the event. However, the Group Stage for the tournament will kick off on May 11 and will be played for two days. The qualified players from the various leagues will meet in a eight-group round-robin gauntlet, with the best 24 players moving to the knockout stage.
May 18-19 – Knockout Stage
The 24 players will return to London the following weekend and compete for a spot in the Grand Final via a single elimination bracket format. From here, only eight players will advance to the next stage.
May 29 – Grand Final
The Grand Final of the 2024 eChampions League will take place on May 29 in London in the lead up to the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. It will be a live event with over a thousand fans in attendance. Details on how to get the tickets will be released soon.
How to Watch the eChampions League
The #eChampionsLeague is BACK! pic.twitter.com/hqniuyggXf
— EA SPORTS FC Pro (@EASPORTSFCPro) January 23, 2024
Just like the previous editions of the eChampions League, fans will be able to follow the action this year as it happens. Matches will be streamed on EA Sports’ Twitch and YouTube platforms.
Viewership rewards are back with players and packs, among other items all up for grabs. Those who will be following the event on Twitch have the opportunity to earn exclusive eCL Twitch Drops. For more information, check ea.com.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook for more EA Sports FC 24 news.
