EA Sports is going big on football esports this year, with two back-to-back tournaments landing in Shanghai this September. Fans of both FC Online and FC Mobile can look forward to the FC Pro Champions Cup and the FC Pro Mobile Festival, taking place from 9–14 September 2025 at the Jingwu Gymnasium in the Hongkou District. Together, the events will hand out a whopping total of $365,000 prize pool.
The FC Pro Champions Cup (9–12 September)
The action kicks off with the Champions Cup, the pinnacle of this year’s FC Pro circuit for both Online and Mobile.
- FC Online Champions Cup: 12 top teams, qualified through rankings and invites from the FC Pro Masters, will battle it out for a $300,000 (~£221,000) prize pool. The lineup features some heavy hitters including Gen.G, Advice E-sport, NK FC Online, ADJ, DRX, SZAJ, SONIC Gaming, Team VXIS, Dplus KIA, WOL, SevenTV, and Triple W. Teams will first face off in a group stage, split into four groups, before moving on to the single-elimination playoffs from 10–12 September.
- FC Mobile Champions Cup: Running alongside it, six players will compete for $60,000 (~£44,000), with the finals set for 11 September. The winner will walk away as Asia’s FC Mobile champion.
Last year’s FC Pro Masters in South Korea hit a peak of 673,000 viewers, making it the most-watched football esports event to date. With that kind of momentum, EA is clearly hoping Shanghai will push things even further.
“After an impressive debut for FC Mobile and FC Online esports in 2024, we’re meeting that enthusiasm with two back-to-back events that continue to raise the stakes,” said Sam Turkbas, Senior Director of Esports Product at EA.
The FC Pro Mobile Festival (13–14 September)
Once the Champions Cup wraps, the focus shifts to the FC Pro Mobile Festival, a lighter, entertainment-driven competition that brings pros and creators together.
Ten teams, each made up of one professional player and one content creator, will compete for a smaller $5,000 (~£3,690) prize pool. But it’s not just about the money, this event is more about fun, spectacle, and engaging a wider audience. Teams will start in a round-robin format on day one before the top contenders clash in single-elimination playoffs on day two.
The Festival isn’t limited to Asia either. Expect competitors from across China, Korea, Southeast Asia, MENA, Brazil, Europe, and the USA. EA is billing this as a celebration of football esports that blends high-level play with creator-led entertainment, complete with an opening ceremony.
“By reaching competitors and fans of FC Mobile and FC Online alike, we’re expanding the footprint of football esports to engage new regions and support the rise of new champions,” Turkbas added.
How to Watch
Both events will be streamed live, starting 9 September, in multiple languages. The FC Pro Mobile Festival will also be shown on the EA Sports FC Mobile YouTube channel, alongside a range of regional platforms.
EA’s Bigger Esports Push
Shanghai’s showcase comes right after EA confirmed the FC Pro 26 Global Qualifier at DreamHack Atlanta, where 256 players will compete for a share of $152,000. Clearly, EA is doubling down on building a global esports ecosystem around FC Mobile and FC Online, with regional competitions feeding into bigger international showdowns.
With the Champions Cup carrying prestige and prize money, and the Mobile Festival delivering entertainment and global flair, Shanghai is shaping up to be a milestone moment for football esports fans everywhere.