RB Leipzig crowned FIFAe Club World Champion 2023 at Gamers8

RBLZ Gaming – RB Leipzig celebrate winning the FIFAe Club World Cup 2023 in Riyadh. (Getty Images)
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Updated 10 July 2023
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RB Leipzig crowned FIFAe Club World Champion 2023 at Gamers8

  • RBLZ Gaming – RB Leipzig take home share of largest prize pool in FIFAe history
  • RB Leipzig defeated Team FUTWIZ Europe following dominant run to final

RIYADH: RBLZ Gaming – RB Leipzig took home the trophy and $300,000 in prize money after winning the final of the FIFAe Club World Cup 2023 at Gamers8.

The 2v2 competition, with total prize money of $1 million, took place from July 6 to 9 at Riyadh Boulevard City.

RB Leipzig, a team composed of Umut, the champion of the FIFAe World Cup 2022, and Vejrgang, the youngest ever FIFAe Club World Cup champion, claimed the trophy, after defeating Team FUTWIZ Europe following a dominant run to the final.

The partnership between FIFAe and Gamers8 is worth a total prize pool of $3 million for three competitions taking place at the festival. The FIFAe Nations Cup 2023 begins on July 11 and will be followed by the FIFAe World Cup 2023 on July 16.

Adrian Rolli, head of e-football at FIFA, said: “We are proud to be able to continuously raise the stage for our clubs and players and it’s always amazing to see organizations like RB Leipzig rise to the occasion.

“This was a spectacular start to what will be the biggest FIFAe finals we’ve ever had. Congrats to the players, coach, and club on an amazing victory and setting the tone for the rest of the event.”

Anders Vejrgang, of RB Leipzig, said: “Of course we are happy that we won the money, but the trophy is so important for us three. Everyone knows that we are the best team, and we were finally able to prove it.”

RB Leipzig took an early lead with a goal at the 30-minute mark of the first leg. FUTWIZ responded quickly, but a pass from Umut set up Vejrgang to score, bringing the game to 2-1 at half-time of the first leg. RB Leipzig’s defence held firm in the second half to take a one-goal lead into the second leg.

With a tied score of 1-1 in the second leg, RB Leipzig won the final with an aggregate score of 3-2.


US invests in counter-drone tech to protect FIFA World Cup venues

Updated 13 January 2026
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US invests in counter-drone tech to protect FIFA World Cup venues

The US will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and ​America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defenses.

The FIFA World Cup will be a major test of President Donald Trump’s pledge to keep the US ‌secure, with over ‌a million travelers expected ‌to ⁠visit ​for ‌the tournament and billions more watching matches from overseas.

The threat of drone attacks has become a growing concern since the war in Ukraine has demonstrated their lethal capabilities. And recent drone incidents have worried both ⁠European and US airports.

“We are entering a new era ‌to defend our air ‍superiority to protect our ‍borders and the interior of the ‍United States,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Defense companies are developing a range of technologies aimed at countering drones, including ​tracking software, lasers, microwaves and autonomous machine guns.

The DHS did not specify ⁠which technologies it would deploy to World Cup venues. The announcement comes weeks after the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which sits under DHS, said it granted $250 million to 11 states hosting World Cup matches to buy counter-drone technologies.

Last summer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called on Trump, a Republican, to bolster federal support for ‌defending against drone attacks.