FOOTBALL fans can see Wales new boy Rubin Colwill and winger Rabbi Matondo taking on one of the best esports gamers in Wales at EA Sports’ FIFA today at 1pm.

The Football Association of Wales have teamed up with Esports Wales to support the Welsh Government’s campaign to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by launching the #KeepWalesSafe FIFA Cup – a FIFA tournament on the live streaming platform Twitch.

Amateur gamers will be taking part in the tournament today, but prior to the tournament kicking off, fans can see how the Wales professional footballers fared against each other as well as versus esports star Tyler Phillips, the Newport-born gamer picked to join Gareth Bale’s team Ellevens Esports team 18 months ago.

EA Sports’ FIFA has been a globally popular game for a number of years, but over the past year, during the pandemic, eSports in Wales has now entered a new stage in its development, particularly amongst young adults with 90,000 Gen Z eSports players in Wales.

Esports gaming allows people to be connected to play whilst remaining remote, and even though the phased move to alert level one was confirmed earlier this week and restrictions in Wales continue to be eased the advice remains that it is safer to meet up outside, to keep your distance while you are out, take the vaccine when you are offered to do so and to get a test and self-isolate for mild symptoms, even if you have been vaccinated.

Further evidence of the restrictions easing includes tomorrow’s pilot test event at Cardiff City Stadium when over 6,000 supporters are expected to see Wales face Albania in a final warm up fixture ahead of the delayed EURO2020 tournament.

Before the Euros, 20-year-old Matondo and 19-year-old Colwill, who only made his Wales debut against France in Nice last Wednesday night, face an entertaining esports battle on the small screen before Wales take on the world’s finest on the biggest stage at the Euros.

Newport-born Tyler Phillips and Georgia Peplow a former Cardiff City FC eSports player will play in the tournament, with commentary from the voice of the Bluebirds match days Geraint Hardy.

Watch the live stream #KeepWalesSafe FIFA Cup on Esports Wales Twitch channel on Sunday 6th June from 1pm and one lucky person will win an Xbox Series S signed by four Wales players from their Portugal training camp.

For information how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, visit gov.wales/keepwalessafe