Microsoft and Electronic Arts are planning a FIFA Interactive World Cup tournament - sanctioned by the sport"s governing body - to be held between October and December of this year on Xbox Live and at real-life events around the world.
Announced at the Games Convention in Leipzig this week, the Interactive World Cup will combine a series of online tournaments with live meet-ups - featuring drills, tips and tricks sessions with international football experts, guest appearances, prizes and musical acts - and culminates at the FIFA Player of the Year Gala in Zurich this December where the finals will be played out.
The three-month tournament will involve players from all over the world, and uses EA"s FIFA Football 2005 for Xbox, which is due out in Europe in October. PS2, Cube and PC versions are also planned for release at the same time, however the tournament - which also celebrates Xbox"s position as official licensed console of the 2006 World Cup - will take place exclusively on Microsoft"s platform.