With the growth of video games in the 1990s, a new generation of fans grew up managing their favourite clubs and controlling their idols through the iconic FIFA game series — a staple on the most popular consoles of the era.

What began as a simple form of entertainment evolved into a serious competitive space: Football Esports. Especially after FIFA officially recognised the discipline, the number of players worldwide continued to grow.

In Portugal, it is no different. Following numerous achievements on real pitches, both clubs and the national federation have been actively working on the development of Football Esports, helping the national team stand out on the stage of the FIFAe Tournament.

The eLiga Portugal Connects the Whole Country

Just as in traditional football, success at national level begins with solid foundations at club level. Recognising the impact of Football Esports in Portugal, the Portuguese Football League decided to professionalise and structure the scene. In the 2018–2019 season, the first Portuguese Football Esports league was launched, immediately featuring the country's leading clubs.

After a dominant start by Sporting Braga with three consecutive titles, the subsequent champions were:

• B-SAD (2021–2022)
• Benfica (2022–2023)
• FC Famalicão (2023–2024)
• Boavista (2024–2025)

This growing level of professionalism has led to a more competitive league — four different champions in eight seasons — which continues to attract more sponsors and viewers every year.

From Twitch to Television: A Media Success Story

The popularity of the eLiga Portugal is not limited to Twitch. It has also gained recognition from major television channels and their audiences.

Between 2020 and 2022, matches were broadcast on Sport TV, followed by RTP (Portugal's public broadcaster) between 2022 and 2024 — a period that recorded the competition's highest viewership to date. In the 2024–2025 season, matches moved to A Bola TV.

In addition to the league format, the eLiga Cup was introduced in 2020–2021. In this tournament, Estoril stands out with two titles, while Benfica, FC Famalicão and Santa Clara have each won once, demonstrating the diversity and openness of Football Esports competition.

The National Team: On a Mission to Conquer the World

A larger and more talented pool of players has naturally led to a stronger Football Esports national team, ready to face fierce international competition at the FIFAe Tournament.

Portugal's first major international success came in 2011, when Francisco Cruz (known as "Quinzas") won the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) in Los Angeles. More recently, João Afonso defeated Brazilian player Young by 6–2 in the final of the 2024 Esports World Cup.

Spanish team Movistar Riders claimed the title at the FIFAe Club World Cup 2022, but the victory has a Portuguese flavour: the squad includes Diogo Pombo, known in the Esports world as Tuga810.

The FPF Drives the Growth of Virtual Football in Portugal

In step with a growing trend deeply embedded in today's society, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) decided to create an eSPORTS division with the goal of building a community of virtual football players.

In an unprecedented achievement worldwide, the FPF and PUMA launched an exclusive kit dedicated to eSPORTS. Featuring dryCELL technology and the official FPF eSPORTS colours, this kit will serve as the new official strip for the Virtual National Team in competitions such as the FIFAe World Cup and UEFA eEuro 2025.

This limited-edition kit incorporates the central message of FPF eSPORTS, "It Will Never Be Just a Game", and highlights the wide range of football-related Esports titles in its ecosystem, including EA FC, eFootball, eFootball Mobile, UFL, Football Manager and Rocket League.

Football Esports have moved beyond being a mere pastime to become a powerful extension of the beautiful game in Portugal. Want to stay up to date with everything football? Explore more articles in our Editorial section and keep your passion for the game alive, on and off the pitch.