Registration opens today for UK-based EA SPORTS™ FC 26 players aged 16 and over to represent one of 20 Premier League clubs on the virtual pitch.
The Premier League and Electronic Arts (EA) have today announced the launch of the eighth season of the ePremier League, as part of EA SPORTS FC™ Pro, the official esports circuit for EA SPORTS™ FC.
Registration is now open at e.premierleague.com for UK-based players aged 16 and over to apply for the online qualifiers which take place in November and December. From there, clubs will hold their Playoffs in January to see who will reach the Group Stages, which this season carry even more weight, with players’ rankings within their groups helping to determine seeding for the Knockout Stages.
With an exciting new format, the stakes are higher than ever as the UK's best players compete for £100,000 in total prize money and guaranteed spots in the prestigious 2026 FC Pro World Championship.
Premier League Chief Commercial Officer Will Brass said: “The ePremier League continues to evolve, offering fans an exciting way to represent their favourite Premier League clubs in our official esports tournament.
“Over the last seven seasons, we have seen some incredible storylines developing, with the very best players in the world going up against new and emerging talent.
“We can’t wait to see the drama unfold once again on EA SPORTS FC™ 26 and find out who will be crowned this season’s ePremier League Champion. Once again, the tournament will reach a climax with two weekends of live action streamed across Premier League digital channels and global broadcast partners.”
Monica Dinsmore, Head of Esports, EA, added: “The ePremier League is a crucial part of the FC Pro calendar, and we are delighted to welcome it back for an eighth season.
“The Premier League is the home of some of the most iconic football clubs in the world and this competition gives players the opportunity to represent some of football’s biggest teams and experience the best of UK football’s passionate fandom firsthand.”
Represent your club Players wishing to compete in the ePremier League can register today to represent a club online at e.premierleague.com. Competitors will then take part in up to three online Open Qualifiers across November and December 2025, earning points toward their Club Leaderboard to qualify for the Club Playoffs in January 2026.
This season, all clubs have the opportunity to ‘sign’ players directly into the ePremier League Group Stages via Fast Tracking. Clubs can choose to sign either one or both players this way, depending on eligibility. The system is designed to help clubs invest in talent year over year and build long-term relationships with players, just like we see on the physical pitch.
More information on the ePL Fast Track process can be found here: https://e.premierleague.com/important-information.
Every match counts New this season, Group Stage matches carry even more weight in determining club standings ahead of the Knockout Stages. After initial seeding based on the latest FC Pro Global Rankings, clubs will face off within their groups to establish their position. Performance in the Group Stage will directly influence Knockout Stage seeding, rewarding teams that can maintain a hot streak from Week 1.
Season overview and key dates The 2025/26 ePremier League season will conclude with two weekends of live action, featuring 40 players representing all 20 Premier League clubs in an exciting in-person competition on PlayStation. Fans can earn the chance to represent their favourite club through online qualifiers starting this November.
ePL Online Qualifiers (26-27 November, 3-4 December, and 10-11 December, 2025): UK residents have three opportunities to represent their favourite club and earn points to climb their respective leaderboards. After all three qualifiers, the top eight players will advance to each club’s Playoffs.
ePL Club Playoffs (14-22 January 2026): Players who qualify for Club Playoffs will navigate a double elimination bracket for a chance to compete for their chosen clubs in the Group Stages.
ePL Group Stages (28 February – 1 March 2026): Clubs will compete in a 1v1, team-based format to determine seeding for the final bracket.
ePL Knockouts (28 March 2026) & Finals (29 March 2026): The final weekend will feature an updated bracket format, where clubs face off in elimination rounds until one team emerges as the ePremier League Champion.
Continuing momentum This season of the ePremier League builds on success from 2024/25, when Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt and Matias Bonanno of Manchester City saw off the competition to win the title for the second season in a row.
As always, there are new clubs joining the ePremier League this season. Leeds United, Sunderland and Burnley were all promoted to the Premier League last season. For Sunderland, it marks their first-ever appearance in the ePremier League. Can they carry their strong start in the Premier League onto the virtual pitch?
About the Premier League The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities, and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere, and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.
About ePremier League The ePremier League was introduced in 2018, with EA SPORTS football esports players throughout the UK representing Premier League clubs. The previous ePL Champions are:
2018/19 - Tekkz (Liverpool FC)
2019/20 - Tom Leese (Watford FC)
2020/21 - Shellzz (Manchester City)
2021/22 - Damie and Goal Poacher (Norwich City) ·2022/23 - Stokes and Ollelito (Leeds United)
2023/24 - Tekkz and Bonanno (Manchester City)
2024/25 – Tekkz and Bonanno (Manchester City)
