By Romily Broad

The US National Final of the 2009 FIFA Interactive World Cup will take place at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York on 4 April. Just eight elite FIFA 09 gamers made it through to the final event, where they'll fight it out for a berth at the world Grand Final in Barcelona in May.

More than 250 would-be champs had competed for places at the New York showdown in two live qualifying events, one on each coast. Another two qualifiers made it through via online qualification.
 
East Coast Conference Finalists
Nenad Stojkovic - Parma Heights, OH
Nick Casillas - Saunderstown, RI
Amir Nassar - Bayonne, NJ
    
West Coast Conference Finalists
Mike Eapinoza - Los Angeles, CA
Ivan Lopez - Long Beach, CA
Dan Meyers - Pittsburgh, PA
    
Online Finalists
Giuseppe Guastella - Ukiah, CA
Michael LaBelle - Missouri City, TX

The finalists will battle it out in the state-of-the-art High Definition theatre at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab with up to 80 guests and attending media soaking up the atmosphere.

The invitation-only event will start at 11am and continue until 4pm.

Former Columbia international and total legend Carlos Valderrama will make a personal appearance to meet with gamers, sign autographs and will be available interviews. Valderrama made 111 appearances for the Columbian national team, as well has having a celebrated club career in both Columbia and the US, ending his career with the Colorado Rapids in 2003.

A star of the US Women's National Team, Heather O'Reilly, will also be making an appearance. O'Reilly is a national squad regular and earned a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. She also featured in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the USA finished third. O'Reilly plays for Sky Blue FC in the Women's Professional Soccer League.

The FIWC US National Final is the last stage of a long search to find the best virtual footy player in the US. The ultimate prize for the winner is a trip to Barcelona to represent the USA and a chance to be crowned the best virtual football player in the world, as well as bagging a first-place prize haul of $20,000.