eMLS is back and expanding on all fronts for its second season in 2019, including the addition of D.C. United to the competitive gaming league. The Black-and-Red will announce their first-ever eSports player in the coming weeks.
Major League Soccer and EA SPORTS revealed Monday details for the 2019 eMLS season, which will feature 22 teams, including newcomers D.C. United, Atlanta United, and FC Cincinnati and all 19 originals. Each club will vie for the 2019 eMLS Cup presented by PlayStation, to be played on Playstation 4 as the official console.
The calendar is highlighted by the inaugural eMLS League Series presented by PlayStation, comprised of two events: eMLS League Series One, hosted in conjunction with the LA Galaxy in January, and eMLS League Series Two, hosted by FC Dallas in February. Each will include participation from all eMLS professional FIFA players, with prizes awarded for performance in each series. Additionally, performance across the two eMLS League Series events will determine seeding for the 2019 eMLS Cup presented by PlayStation.
"We were thrilled with the success and excitement in year one of eMLS,” said James Ruth, MLS senior director of properties and events. “Working with our core partners, EA SPORTS and PlayStation, we are creating more opportunities for our players to compete and for our fans to engage with eMLS in 2019. eMLS League Series presented by PlayStation and the rest of our 2019 programming will push us closer to our goal of blurring the lines between traditional and digital soccer, while further elevating eMLS in the global FIFA competitive gaming community."
eMLS is an Official League Partner of the EA SPORTS FIFA 19 Global Series and eMLS players competing in eMLS Cup will receive points for the EA SPORTS Global Series Playoffs. Within the EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series, eMLS had six players qualify for the Global Series Playoffs in Amsterdam (behind only the Virtuelle Bundesliga), with Sporting Kansas City’s competitor advancing to the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup in London.
