FIWC North American Qualifying Events Set For Santa Monica and Baltimore

The search for the best virtual soccer player in North America is heating up with details announced today of the American legs of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009.

EA, world-soccer governing body FIFA and Sony Computer Entertainment have announced two live qualifying events on the east and west coasts, as well as an online qualifying tournament, leading to a grand final in New York in April.

The FIWC has become one of the largest and fastest growing sports gaming competitions in the world, with players from around the globe battling it out on FIFA 09 (FIFA Soccer 09 in North America) for PS3 in a bid to be crowned the best virtual soccer player in the world and receive a $20,000 first place prize. The best players in North America will be competing for one of 32 berths at the FIWC Grand Final in May in Barcelona, Spain. The 32 finalists will consist of winners from live qualifiers which are taking place around the world, plus qualifiers from the online competition via PlayStation Network.

There will be two live FIWC North American regional qualification tournaments and a National Final, presented by promotional partners VISA and adidas. The West regional will take place on 7 March in Santa Monica, CA, and the East regional is scheduled for 21 March in Baltimore, MD. Entrants in each regional final will be competing for a prize package valued at $2,000 and three berths into the National Final in New York. In addition, the FIWC North American online qualifying tournament will run from 12 February to 5 March, with two berths in the National Final at stake.

The National Final itself will take place on 4 April at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York. It will be comprised of eight finalists (three from each regional tournament and two online qualifiers) competing for the North American championship and the chance to be crowned the best virtual soccer player in the world in Barcelona and receive a $20,000 first-place prize.