Look, it’s not going to be the football you’re used to seeing but at least it’s something. I mean, come on. FIFA 20 and the Premier League are all about many sweaty men kicking balls. The upside to players participating in FIFA 20 games is that they’ll waste less time pretending to be hurt.
It was just last week that we reported on how several professional racing organisations have turned their attention to the simulation scene in order to provide fans which the high octane action they crave. Now it looks like The English Premier League will be doing the same although their virtual replacement is more of commercial video game than a highly-realistic test scenario for drivers and cars. The EPL has announced that starting from today and running through to next week they’ll be hosting a FIFA 20 tournament and all the proceeds raised from the event will be donated to the National Health Fund in the UK.
The ePremier League Invitational Tournament will see players from 20 teams in EPL get together and duke it out in FIFA 20; Players include Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) , Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) and Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspurs) among many others. A knockout tournament played over 19 matches, the whole thing will be broadcast on YouTube and Twitch. Who’s going up against who? Glad you asked, we have the first matches right here, straight from the Premier League website:
ePL Invitational draw
Round 1
21 April (from 12:00 BST)
1A John McGinn (AVL) v Neal Maupay (BHA)
1B Josh Franceschi (ARS) v Nathaniel Chalobah (WAT)
1C Dwight McNeil (BUR) v Ryan Fredericks (WHU)
1D Philip Billing (BOU) v Angus Gunn (SOU)
Last 16
22 April (from 12:00 BST)
2A Raheem Sterling (MCI) v Wilfried Zaha (CRY)
2B Tom Grennan (MUN) v Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV)
2C Reece James (CHE) v Andre Gomes (EVE)
2D Moussa Sissoko (TOT) v Christian Atsu (NEW)
23 April (from 12:00 BST)
2E Diogo Jota (WOL) v Wilfred Ndidi (LEI)
2F Todd Cantwell (NOR) v Lys Mousset (SHU)
2G Winner 1A v Winner 1D
2H Winner 1B v Winner 1C
Quarter-finals
24 April (from 12:00 BST)
QF1 Winner 2B v Winner 2D
QF2 Winner 2C v Winner 2A
QF3 Winner 2E v Winner 2F
QF4 Winner 2G v Winner 2H
Semi-finals/Final
25 April (from 15:00 BST)
SF1 Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF2 Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Final Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
The whole thing kicks off (HA) at 12:00 BST today, 21 April and the opening rounds will conclude on Friday 24 April. So if you want to see all those footballers you love to swear at play a much lower stakes game of football, just check out the links above for some FIFA 20 action.