JioBLAST and Electronic Arts Conclude ‘Rang De EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile,’ Bringing Esports and Football Together for Holi in Gurugram
JioBLAST, in partnership with Electronic Arts, successfully concluded “Rang De EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile,” a two-day Holi celebration in Gurugram that brought together over 2,000 players and fans across esports and football experiences. Held from 28 February to 1 March 2026, the event transformed the festival of colours into a dynamic sporting spectacle, seamlessly blending competitive gaming with real-world football activities.
The tournament connected digital competition with on-ground football participation, creating a unique experience for India’s gaming and football communities.
From Online Qualifiers to LAN Finals
The tournament journey began with over 2,000 gamers from multiple cities registering via the JioGames app to compete in nationwide online qualifiers playing EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile.
Only the Top 8 finalists advanced to the LAN Finals hosted at Vedas International School, Gurugram, where two days of competition culminated in Aishwal Zala from Ahmedabad emerging as tournament champion, taking home a PlayStation®5 console (Disc Edition).
Runner-up and semi-finalist placements included Yash Suresh Mali from Pune and Ridham Shukla from Ahmedabad.
Beyond competition, the finals featured creator show matches and fan engagement segments led by popular creators Divyansh Verma and De Mysterio, alongside EA SPORTS FC™ pro player Charanjot Singh.
Livestreams from the venue generated a peak concurrent viewership (CCV) of over 100K, reaching over 2M views from fans across digital platforms. Viral moment: Watch the highlight reel here
EA SPORTS FC FUTURES: Supporting Grassroots Football
A key pillar of the event wasEA SPORTS FC FUTURES, EA’s grassroots initiative that drives real-world football development through the power of the digital game.
Participants stepped beyond the screen to take part in structured football development sessions inspired byFC FUTURES training practices. Coach-led activities included:
●Quick Fire Finishing — improving timing and confidence in front of goal
●Dribbling Challenges — ball mastery and creative movement
●2v1 Waves — attacking decision-making and transitions
●Keep It Moving — passing, scanning and positional awareness
●5v5 Matches — applying learnings in live game scenarios
By integrating gameplay with physical sport, the initiative demonstrated how interactive football experiences can inspire participation on the pitch.
A Festival-Style Fan Experience
Beyond the tournament, attendees experienced an immersive fan environment celebrating football and
gaming culture:
- EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile x Premier League Holi Kit— live creator segments showcasing the limited-time in-game content
- Interactive gaming zones featuring hands-on EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile gameplay
- Freestyle football performances and skill challenges
- Community Holi celebrations with live DJ sets and fan activities
Ashutosh Sharma, General Manager & Head of Publishing – India, Electronic Arts,said:
“At EA SPORTS, our goal is to bring fans closer to football through interactive play, and experiences like ‘Rang De EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile’ show how the game connects communities on and off the pitch. Bringing football into the spirit of Holi created a unique shared celebration, while initiatives like FC
FUTURES highlight how interactive football can inspire participation beyond the screen. We’re proud to collaborate with JioBLAST to continue supporting football culture in India.”
Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, added:
“JioBLAST’s partnership with EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile marks a major step in how we design grassroots competitive entertainment events in India. ‘Rang De’ goes beyond a tournament. It’s an ecosystem moment bringing together colleges, creators, and football culture under one high-impact platform. This
collaboration highlights the power of India’s evolving esports ecosystem in providing global publishers with a direct line to grassroots communities through large-scale, integrated events. We are thrilled to continue this journey with EA SPORTS, setting a new standard for how international gaming IPs can truly resonate with the Indian heartland.”
About JioBLAST Entertainment
JioBLAST is a joint venture between Jio, BLAST, and RISE Worldwide Limited, combining Jio’s 500+ million-strong digital ecosystem with BLAST’s global expertise in esports entertainment and RISE’s leadership in sports and event
management. Through innovative, inclusive, and high-quality formats, JioBLAST empowers India’s Gen Z gamers to compete, create, and connect on a global stage. The platform seeks to nurture a thriving ecosystem of publishers, creators, players, and fans - driving the future of interactive entertainment in India.
