FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have decided to postpone the FIFAe Finals 2026. The football’s national-team esports championship was called off just a day before the first match was scheduled to take place in Jeddah. No new date or venue has been announced yet.
As per the joint statement released at midnight local time on Thursday, the postponement was due to an evaluation of recent developments in the region and their impact on the logistical arrangements needed for the tournament. FIFA expressed gratitude towards the kingdom and the federation for their support, referencing the success of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of previous tournament editions. Further updates on the event will be provided in the future.
The statement did not address security concerns, which were cited by the two national federations that withdrew ahead of FIFA’s decision.
The Japan Football Association announced on Oct. 10 that their team would not participate due to safety and security concerns in the host country. Brazil’s CBF later called off the eSeleção’s participation for similar reasons, particularly highlighting risks associated with the airspace and airports the delegation would have had to navigate through.
Japan’s withdrawal also meant that Konami, the home federation, would not be represented in the event, as their game eFootball was involved in two out of three competitions.
Both withdrawals coincided with a Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, resulting in casualties and injuries, as reported by Reuters. This incident, along with previous attacks on the airport, prompted concerns about the safety of the region. As a result, other events, such as the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition and the Asian Cup, have also faced potential delays.
Konami’s statement to players attributed the postponement to “various circumstances.”
This year’s FIFAe Finals were anticipated to be record-breaking with over 120 nations participating in the qualifying rounds held across various continents. The finals were set to feature competitions in console and mobile eFootball as well as Rocket League. The event was scheduled to take place at the Abadi Al Johar Arena from Oct. 16 to 25, with a significant prize pool, similar to the previous edition in Riyadh.
This postponement marks the third major international esports event in Saudi Arabia to be rescheduled this year. The Esports Foundation had also made changes to their planned events earlier in the year.
There are many uncertainties surrounding the rescheduling of the FIFAe Finals, including the new dates, the potential relocation of the event, the fate of qualification results, financial responsibilities, and the participation of Japan and Brazil if the event is rescheduled. The decision will impact the crowning of world champions in the esports competition this year and raise questions about the feasibility of a football esports calendar centered around a single host.
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