March 5 – ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has been appointed by Major League Soccer to operate the 2026 edition of the eMLS Cup, the league’s flagship EA Sports FC tournament in North America.
Under the agreement, EFG will oversee the competitive structure and broadcast delivery of the tournament, guiding the competition from club qualification through to the crowning of a champion. The event also serves as a qualifying route into the EA FC World Championship in Riyadh this summer – and its $1million prize pool.
The competition will culminate in a live studio final staged at EFG’s production facility in Columbus, Ohio, where the region’s top players will compete on broadcast.
Adam Apicella, Senior Vice-President of esports at ESL FACEIT Group, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Major League Soccer to bring the eMLS Cup to life. Our team is dedicated to providing a professional, competitive environment that honours the prestige of the MLS badge while delivering a high-calibre 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.”
Chris Blivin, MLS Vice-President of consumer products, added: “eMLS is a vital part of how Major League Soccer connects with our young, digitally native fans. 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.”
All 30 MLS clubs will nominate a player to represent them in the 2026 regular season. The initial stage will be played as an online Swiss-format tournament on March 7 and 8, operated by EFG, reducing the field to eight finalists.
Those remaining players will then travel to Columbus for a two-day finals residency featuring a media day and a live broadcast final on April 12, where the eMLS champion will be crowned and qualification places for the EA FC World Championship decided.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]