For the first time in its history, FIFA earned more money in 2020 from video games than from competitions.
A small revolution, however, linked to the coronavirus crisis, which has strongly affected football competitions, thus reducing FIFA's income.
In 2020, e-sport was FIFA's main source of income, bringing in € 133 million.
Virtual football has become economically stronger than classic football.
This large sum comes from video game competitions, often paid for, which allow the institution to generate part of its income.
The major part comes from the video game FIFA, which uses the license of the federation and whose success is unmistakable.
For the whole of 2020, FIFA 21 was the best-selling video game in Europe.
Even in the United States, where other licenses are more popular, notably the NBA basketball license, FIFA 21 has achieved record sales.
>> Find the morning show of the day in replay and podcast here
A historic first
The fact that 50% of FIFA's revenues come from the world of video games is a historic first to be branded with a hot iron.
It must also be said that with the coronavirus, the cancellation of tournaments and the absence of an audience in the stadiums, FIFA has won almost nothing with traditional football in 2020, thus putting the whole in perspective.
>> READ ALSO -
The pace of matches, the Blues, the Euro ... Raphaël Varane confides in Europe 1
Moreover, even without a pandemic, FIFA relies more and more on video games.
Indeed, most of its financial resources traditionally come from world cups, which bring in billions of euros ... but only take place every four years.
Esports, on the other hand, provides income every year and all year round.
Especially since the market will still grow.
Gianni Infantino, the boss of the international federation, understood it well: as the physical football calendar is overloaded with competitions, FIFA has room to create dozens of video game competitions that will earn it more and more. more in the years to come.