27 February 2012, SYDNEY –  Australia has again secured the rights to stage a FIFA Interactive World Cup Live Qualifying Event for 2012, beating out other countries to be one of only 11 countries in the world to host the live tournaments. Pre-qualifying events will be staged at EB Games stores in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Rockhampton from 6pm on Thursday March 22.  For the very first time, participants from all over the country will now have the chance to compete in the tournament.  The winner from each of the pre-qualifiers will be flown to Sydney on April 4 for the final event, to compete against each other and determine Australia’s best player. The pre-qualifying events will be held from 6pm on Thursday March 22 at the following EB Games Store locations:

NSW – Westfield Miranda, Miranda NSW – Top Ryde City, Ryde NSW – Charlestown Square, Newcastle QLD – Robina Town Centre, Gold Coast QLD – Rockhampton Fair, Rockhampton SA –  Rundle Mall, Adelaide VIC – Knox City, Melbourne WA – Cannington, Perth

For further details of store locations, check out www.ebgames.com.au/stores Players must register online to secure a spot in the pre-qualifying events at www.fiwcaustralia.com.au
The player who wins the FIWC Australian Qualifying Event will be invited to compete at the international Grand Final event later in the year, for their chance to win $20,000 as well as being awarded their FIWC trophy at the annual FIFA Players Gala alongside such football luminaries as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Ricardo Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Tim Cahill and many more.

Organised by FIFA and presenting partners EA SPORTS™ and PlayStation® – the FIFA Interactive World Cup combines online and offline football tournaments played with EA SPORTS™ FIFA 12 on PlayStation®3 (PS3™). Last year, just under 900,000 players from around the world participated in the 2011 event, with Australia’s own Mark Azzi competing in the Grand Final event, achieving a very impressive third place. “I’m so excited to have won!” Mark said, “My father came for the final, and just seeing him there made me cry.  I just used to remember that line he used to tell me when I was sitting at home, he used to say ‘Mark, get off the PlayStation, you’re going no-where’, and I used to tell him, ‘Dad, I’ll show you one day!’ and today I showed him!!” Places in the tournament are limited, and will fill up fast.  Players must register online to secure a spot in the pre-qualifying events at www.fiwcaustralia.com.au.