There will also be a selection of UK online pre-qualifiers utilising EA SPORTS’ new “MATES Leagues” platform which enables users to create and manage their own leagues and cups.

Interesting stuff indeed. So, if you’ve got a PS3, or you’re just nosey, take a look at the press release in full by clicking the read more button below.

Calling all UK Football Fans, the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) has arrived!

With the UK having been selected to host one of the 10 Live Qualifier Events for the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2010 (FIWC 10) details on how players can qualify to compete at the UK Live Qualifier Event are now available.

The world’s largest football gaming tournament has two modes of qualification for the Grand Final which is taking place on 1st May in Barcelona, Spain. Players can compete for the 32 Grand Final spots via the online qualification seasons or by winning one of the 10 Live Qualifier Events that are being held around the world.
EA SPORTS and PlayStation will be hosting a number of live pre-qualifier tournaments across the UK where players will be able to compete and win a spot at the UK Live Qualifier Event set to take place at the end of March 2010. There will also be a selection of UK online pre-qualifiers utilising EA SPORTS’ new “MATES Leagues” platform which enables users to create and manage their own leagues and cups. The UK Live Qualifier Event will pit 28 players against each other with only 1 claiming a place at the Grand Final in Barcelona.

Below are the details of all the EA SPORTS pre-qualifier dates and locations along with dates for the online pre-qualifier events on the EA SPORTS “MATES Leagues” platform.

Live Pre-qualifiers
28th November: Live Pre-qualifier at Loftus Road (QPR), London
Starting approx. 1pm, first come first serve basis
29th November: Live Pre-qualifier at the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal), London
Starting approx. 2pm, first come first serve basis
19th December*: Live Pre-qualifiers at the following locations;
Meadowhall Shopping Centre (Sheffield)
Westfield Shopping Centre (Derby)
Bullring Shopping Centre (Birmingham)
Arndale Centre (Manchester)
The Bridges Shopping Centre (Sunderland)
Whitgift Shopping Centre (Croydon)

*Practice tournaments will be taking place at each of the shopping centres in the weekends prior to the 19th December and will start on the 4th December. On the 19th December the qualifying tournaments will start at 10am and conclude by 7pm.

Online UK Pre-qualifiers (please note this is not connected to the global online qualification seasons)
1st Dec – 14th Dec 2009
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 1
21st Dec – 4th Jan 2010
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 2
11th Jan – 25th Jan 2010
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 3
8th Feb – 22nd Feb 2010
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 4
1st Mar – 15th Mar 2010
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 5
8th Mar – 15th Mar 2010
FIWC Online Pre-qualifier 6

*Dates for online pre-qualifiers are subject to change.

Further information about the UK Live Qualifier Event, PlayStation activities and online pre-qualifiers will be available shortly.