Real Madrid starts an esports team in China

Real-life football club to play virtual football in FIFA Online 4

Video gaming

Ravi Hiranand

Published: 8:15pm, 8 May, 2018

Why you can trust SCMP

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Real Madrid have won almost everything there is to win in world football. Now it’s trying to win on the virtual field too.

The club announced on its official Weibo account that it’s starting an esports team in China. And instead of Overwatch or League of Legends, the club is starting with something much more familiar: FIFA Online 4.

Based on the main FIFA games, FIFA Online is an offshoot of the series. (Picture: Tencent)

FIFA Online is an offshoot of the hugely popular game series built especially for Asia. Made by South Korean studio EA Spearhead, it’s free-to-play on PC and Android and is published by Tencent in China. The latest instalment is still in beta testing, but is expected out before the World Cup in June.

Real Madrid isn’t the first football club to try their hand at esports. English champions Manchester City signed two professional video game players, while the Netherlands has a whole league for FIFA club teams.

But Real Madrid’s team is the first to focus solely on China -- and one commenter on Weibo says it could help him fulfil a dream: “This is my chance to play for Real Madrid!”

Big esports teams look to smartphones with Clash Royale League

For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.

Post