The Rise of Football Esports in Portugal

With the rise of video games in the 1990s, a new generation of football fans grew up managing their favorite clubs and controlling their football idols through the iconic FIFA game series - a staple on the most popular gaming consoles of the time.

 

What started out as a simple form of entertainment evolved into a serious competitive space: Football Esports. Especially after FIFA officially embraced the discipline, the number of players worldwide has continued to increase.

 

In Portugal, it’s no different. Following several achievements on the real pitch, both clubs and the national federation have worked very actively to develop Football Esports, helping the national team to elevate on the FIFAe Tournament stage.

 

eLiga Portugal Connects the Entire Country

 

Just like in traditional football, success at the national level starts with strong club foundations.

 

Recognizing the impact of Football Esports in Portugal, the Portuguese Football League decided to professionalize and structure the scene. In the 2018–2019 season, they launched the first Portuguese Football Esports League, immediately featuring the country’s top football clubs.

 

After a dominant start by Sporting Braga with three consecutive titles, the next champions were B-SAD (2021–2022), Benfica (2022–2023), FC Famalicão (2023–2024), and most recently, 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.

 

According to eLiga Portugal data from its first six seasons, the number of players (including international ones) has consistently grown. The numbers of viewers have also skyrocketed. For example, Twitch viewership during the semi-finals and finals rose from just over 8,000 viewers in 2021–2022 to 22,000 in 2022–2023. In total, eLiga Portugal racked up 226,000 views during the 2022–2023 season.

 

From Twitch to TV: A Media Success Story

 

The eLiga Portugal's popularity isn’t limited to Twitch. It has also gained recognition from major television channels and their audiences.

 

From 2020 to 2022, matches were broadcast by Sport TV, followed by RTP (Portugal’s public TV network) from 2022 to 2024—a period that recorded the highest viewership rating of the competition so far, reaching a 45.54 share. For the 2024–2025 season, matches are now aired on A Bola TV, the cable channel of Portugal’s oldest active sports newspaper.

 

In addition to the league format—where teams accumulate points across several stages to qualify for a final four—the eLiga Cup was introduced in 2020–2021. Much like its real-world counterpart, it’s a knockout competition leading up to a single final match.

 

In this tournament, Estoril stands out with two titles, while Benfica, FC Famalicão, and Santa Clara have each won once, highlighting the variety and openness of competition in Football Esports.

 

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also supports Football Esports by organizing regional and inter-association tournaments, helping push the estimated number of active virtual football players in Portugal to around one million.

 

The Portuguese National Team: On a Mission to Conquer the World

 

A larger, more talented player pool has naturally led to a stronger national Football Esports team, well-prepared to take on fierce international competition at the FIFAe Tournament.

 

Portugal’s first major international success came in 2011, when Francisco Cruz (aka “Quinzas”) won the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) in Los Angeles—the tournament’s old name.

 

Since then, the level of play has improved significantly, and competition has become tougher. But that didn’t stop João Afonso (Luna Esports and national team player) from defeating Brazilian player Young by 6–2 in the final of the 2024 Esports World Cup.

 

The Spanish team Movistar Riders claimed the title at the FIFAe Club World Cup 2022, but the victory carries a Portuguese flavor: the roster includes Diogo Pombo, known in the Esports world as Tuga810. Alongside his teammate AndoniiPM, they defeated SAF 2-1 in the grand final.

 

While the national team has participated in recent FIFAe World Cups, the best result so far has been reaching the quarter-finals. However, with another World Cup on the horizon, there’s growing hope that this might finally be the year Portugal brings home the long-awaited trophy.

 

FPF Drives Growth of Virtual Football in Portugal

 

Following a growing trend deeply rooted in today’s society, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) decided to establish an eSPORTS division aimed at building a community of virtual football players. Its clear and unwavering goal is to promote an online gaming culture that values participation, respect, and healthy competition among players.

 

Through this initiative, the FPF aims to provide better conditions for the development of national gaming talent, introduce new competitive formats, and give a fresh boost to the ongoing growth of virtual football in Portugal.

 

In a global first, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and PUMA have unveiled an exclusive jersey dedicated to eSPORTS. Featuring dryCELL technology and the official FPF eSPORTS colors, this jersey will serve as the new official kit for the National Virtual Football Team during competitions like the FIFAe World Cup and UEFA eEuro 2025.

 

This limited-edition kit embodies FPF eSPORTS’ core message, “It Will Never Be Just a Game,” and highlights the wide range of football-related Esports titles within its ecosystem, including EA FC, eFootball, eFootball Mobile, UFL, Football Manager, and Rocket League.

 

Football Esports has transformed from a hobby into a powerful extension of the beautiful game in Portugal. With growing club investment, national success, and rising fan interest, the virtual pitch is proving to be just as thrilling as the real one.

 

Want to stay up to date with everything football-related—from the rise of Esports to the latest on the Portuguese national team? Dive into more articles at our Editorial and keep your passion for the game alive, on and off the pitch.