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FIFA Interactive kicking off

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/3/2006 10:08:00 PM
More On: FIFA '07
EA is really pushing their interactive sports initiative.  The qualifying events for FIFA 07 took place today in select cities, and real-life, all-star soccer players were at the events to mingle with the fans.  Now, it's on to the championship in Zurich.
The search to crown the FIFA Interactive World Player 2006 will come to four cities in the United States on Friday, November 3, FIFA, the world governing body of football, Xbox, the world’s most powerful video game and entertainment system and Electronic Arts Inc, the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company, announced today.

 

North American soccer fans will have the opportunity to compete in live qualifying events in the third annual FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC), the world’s only FIFA-sanctioned global video games tournament, on Friday, November 3 in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

 

This Friday MLS players Danny O’Rourke of the New York Red Bulls, Tyrone Marshall from the LA Galaxy and Kenny Cooper from FC Dallas will be on hand to greet fans in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, respectively. O’Rourke, a rookie on the Red Bulls, will be at the Virgin Megastore on East 14th in New York from 3:00-4:00 pm ET. Marshall, an MLS All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Galaxy, will be at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard this Friday from 3:00-4:00 pm PT. Cooper, who previously played for Manchester United in England, will be at the Virgin Megastore on Grapevine Mills Parkway in Dallas from 3:00-4:00 pm CT this Friday.

 

This year’s FIWC tournament will offer more soccer gamers the chance to be crowned FIFA Interactive World Player 2006, with the winner being invited to the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich on December 18, 2006, and for the first time in the history of the tournament, receiving a cash prize of US$20,000. Last year, Xbox Live entrant Chris Bullard from Ipswich, England emerged victorious having defeated Gabor Mokos, of Kecskemét, Hungary in an intense final at The Brewery in London. 

 

Hopeful competitors from the United States can compete in the live FIFA Interactive World Cup Qualifier Events at the following locations in the United States on November 3:

  • Virgin Megastore, 52 East 14th Street, New York, NY.
    • Time:  3-4:00 pm ET.  Telephone: 212-598-4666
    • Meet: Danny O’Rourke, New York Red Bulls
  • Virgin Megastore, Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, TX
    • Time:  3-4:00 pm CT Telephone: 972-874-9333
    • Meet: Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas
  • Virgin Megastore, 8000 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.
    • Time:  3-4:00 pm PT Telephone:  323-650-6866
    • Meet: Tyrone Marshall, LA Galaxy
  • Virgin Megastore, 1494 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
    • Time:  3pm.  Telephone: 407 828-0222

Players can find more details by visiting the events section at www.FIFA.com

 

Local winners from each of the Qualifier Events will progress to the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final in Amsterdam on December 9, 2006. This year will see the largest group of finalists to date, with the top 128 interactive soccer talents competing to be recognized as the world’s best.  In the new format of the finals, this year’s winner will also get to test his or her skills against the finalists from the previous two FIWC tournaments. The winner will be able to take home a cash prize of US $20,000 and will also receive an all expense paid trip to Zurich for the FIFA World Player Gala on December 18, where this year’s real life soccer stars will be awarded.

 

To request the Official Emblem of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2006, please fill out the marks request form for media on www.FIFAdigitalarchive.com.