16 players. Three guaranteed group matches. £200 prize pot. One champion.

NEXT ROUND 001 is an 18+ EA SPORTS FC 26 tournament played locally on PlayStation 5. This edition will be hosted upstairs at Dirty Martini Birmingham.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

16 competitors

Four groups of four

Three guaranteed group-stage matches per competitor

Top two players from each group progress

Quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

31 matches in total

Local 1v1 matches with four-minute halves

PRIZE POT

Winner: £150

Runner-up: £50

COMPETITOR ENTRY

Only 16 competitor places are available. Your ticket secures one tournament place, including three group-stage matches and the opportunity to progress into the knockout rounds.

All matches will use EA SPORTS FC 26 in Kick-Off: Classic Match mode on PlayStation 5.

Competitors will select one club from an approved pool of standard five-star men’s club teams. Team selections must be submitted no later than 48 hours before the event and will remain locked throughout the tournament.

Standard PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers will be supplied by NEXT ROUND. Personal controllers cannot be used.

Competitor ticket: £10 plus booking fee.

SPECTATOR ENTRY

Watch Birmingham players compete on the big screen, follow the tournament from the group stage to the final and be there when the first NEXT ROUND champion is crowned.

Spectator ticket: £5 plus booking fee.

The £5 Spectator Pass includes entry to NEXT ROUND 001 and one selected welcome drink. An alcohol-free alternative will be available.

VENUE

NEXT ROUND 001 will be hosted upstairs at Dirty Martini Birmingham. Drinks will be available to purchase throughout the event.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This is an 18+ event. Valid photographic ID will be required for entry.

Competitors must arrive and check in by 2:30pm and attend the mandatory competitor briefing at 2:45pm.

Competitor and spectator tickets are separate. A Spectator Pass provides entry to NEXT ROUND 001 as a spectator but does not provide a competitor place or permission to participate in matches.

All competitors must read and accept the complete NEXT ROUND 001 Competitor Rules before participating.

This tournament is not affiliated with or sponsored by Electronic Arts Inc. or its licensors.

Description supplied by the event organiser.