The Home Nations and EE has announced the winners of the Connected Club Cup 2023 – Mariam Musa as the champion of the first women’s tournament and Louie Parker of the men’s group. Mariam and Louie each won the title of the esports FIFA competition after competing in the final against six of the nation’s best male and female grassroots FIFA 23 players at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
Each of the finalists also had the opportunity to test their skills against Home Nations football players Lucy Parker (ENG), Jess Park (ENG), Emily Ramsey (ENG), Marcus Harrison (ENG), Brad Bates (ENG), Ryan Porteous (SCT), Erin Cuthbert (SCT), Lily Woodham (WLS), Tom Lockyer (WLS), Chloe McCarron (NIR) and Rebecca McKenna (NIR), and EXCEL esports gamer, Spencer Ealing aka Gorilla in exhibition matches.
The eight finalists competed in a two-leg round-robin tournament (each player played against every other player in turn) with matches played on both Xbox and PlayStation, all streamed over EE Full Fibre Broadband.
Hosted at Wembley Stadium and narrated by leading esports commentators Rachel Stringer, Alia Harvey, Richard Buckley and Brandon Smith – the Connected Club Cup final saw grassroots gamers and fans follow the action on the FA Twitch channel (https://www.twitch.tv/england) as it was live streamed over EE Full Fibre Broadband. Fans watched as Emma Rose from Northern Ireland, Erin Wylie from Northern Ireland, and Mariam Musa and Anna Rynn, both from England, went head-to-head in the women’s tournament, while Louie Parker from England, Robson Evans from Wales, Liam Martin Wilson from Scotland, and Luke Reid from Northern Ireland battled it out in the men’s tournament.
Connected Club Cup winner, Mariam Musa from England, stated: “To be a part of the Connected Club Cup’s first women’s tournament, and then to be crowned the first female winner, has been such an amazing experience. I hope this inspires more women gamers and football fans to get involved in esports and enter competitions like this in the future.”
Connected Club Cup winner, Louie Parker from England, also shared: “From playing in the round-robin tournaments to having the chance to play a game of FIFA against Home Nations football players like Ryan Porteous and Erin Cuthbert, it has been an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity – and this is all thanks to the Connected Club Cup.”
The winners received a tournament trophy, an Xbox signed by Home Nations players, tickets to a Home Nations game and signed National shirts. All semi-finalists won tickets to a Home Nations game and signed National shirts, while the finalists were awarded personalised National and Connected Club Cup shirts.
