Request Demo
Nayeemul Islam
Junior Content Marketer
Insights / 3 Min.
Football isn't just played in stadiums anymore - it's happening online, on consoles, and in front of massive digital audiences. Bundesliga clubs are catching on, with many now stepping into the world of esports to reach younger fans and explore new ways to grow their brands. From FIFA to League of Legends, these teams are taking their competitive spirit to the virtual arena. But who's actually leading the charge? Let's break down which Bundesliga clubs are active in esports and what they're up to.
While many Bundesliga clubs have made their entry into esports, not everyone has made their mark yet. We take a look at some of the Bundesliga clubs that have made waves in the esports world, especially FIFA:
Founded in 2016, FC Schalke 04 Esports was among the first football clubs to venture into esports. They made a significant impact in League of Legends, competing in the EU LCS and later the LEC until 2021. In FIFA, they've participated in various tournaments, although specific achievements are less documented.
Tournament Highlights:
2nd place in 2018 EU LCS Summer Playoffs
3rd place in 2019 LEC Summer Playoffs
RB Leipzig's esports division, RBLZ Gaming, has been a formidable force in FIFA esports. With star players like Anders Vejrgang and Umut Gültekin, they've achieved significant success.
RBLZ Gaming, the champion of the 2025 Virtual Bundesliga Club Championship. Credit: Virtual Bundesliga.
Tournament Highlights:
German eFootball 2023-2025 Champion, Runners Up in 2021
Champions of the DFB-ePokal in 2023 and 2024
Champions of FIFA eClub World Cup 2023
Werder Bremen entered esports in 2018 and has since been active in FIFA competitions. They're slowly building themselves to be recognized as a top contender in FIFA esports.
Tournament Highlights:
Runners-Up of DFB-ePokal in 2025
VfB Stuttgart has been active in FIFA esports, with players like DullenMIKE representing the club.
Tournament Highlights:
Champions of German eFootball in 2021 & 2022
Formed in 2017, Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been active in professional FIFA participating in domestic tournaments such as the DFB ePokal and Virtual Bundesliga as well as internationally in the EA Global Series.
Tournament Highlights:
Runners Up of VBL Club Championship 2024-2025
After starting their esports journey with FIFA in 2018, Eintracth Frankfurt branched out to other esports titles such as League of Legends in 2020 and Valorant in 2024. Meanwhile, they reached another milestone when they formed their own esports academy in 2023, known as the Deutsche Bank Esports Academy at the EintrachtLab in Deutsche Bank Park.
The Bundesliga actively organizes esports tournaments through the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL), a comprehensive competitive ecosystem established by the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga in partnership with EA SPORTS. Launched in 2012, the VBL was the first esports competition initiated by a professional football league and has since evolved into a multi-tiered structure encompassing both club and individual competitions.
Virtual Bundesliga German Championship 2024/2025. Credit: Virtual Bundesliga
These tournaments are integral to the Bundesliga's strategy of integrating esports into its broader fan engagement initiatives, providing both professional players and fans with structured competitive opportunities.
Esports isn't just a side project for Bundesliga clubs anymore, it's becoming part of their identity. As the lines between traditional and digital sports continue to blur, the clubs that embrace this shift early are building stronger, more future-ready fan bases. The question now isn't if your favorite Bundesliga team will go digital - it's how far they'll take it.
