Esports Wales has confirmed that Newport will host the Phygital Football Regional Qualifiers on Sunday, 28 September 2025, with athletes from across the UK set to compete in this groundbreaking new sporting format.
Phygital sport is a fast-growing concept that fuses traditional sports with esports, blending the physical and digital into one competition. Players must prove themselves both on the pitch and in the gaming arena, combining athletic ability with tactical gaming skills.
Phygital Football merges five-a-side football with competitive digital play. Teams first go head-to-head in a high-energy match on the field, before two players from each side move to the digital stage to battle it out in a 2v2 match on EAFC (formerly FIFA). The scores from both contests are added together to decide the winners.
The Newport qualifiers form part of a global run of events leading to the Games of the Future 2025 in the UAE. Competitors who succeed will progress to the national tournament in January 2025, where final selections for the Games will be made.
The event offers a £750 prize pool, with registration now open at https://ow.ly/Rz7S50WSn2n.
John Jackson, CEO of Esports Wales, said:
“We’re thrilled to bring the Phygital Football experience again to Wales. This event is a celebration of innovation, inclusion, and the future of sport. It’s a chance for Welsh athletes to shine on a global stage and for our communities to engage with the exciting evolution of esports and physical competition.”
With Wales continuing to position itself as a leader in esports, the Newport qualifiers will showcase local talent and underline the country’s role in shaping the future of phygital sport.
