Second of two live qualifying events in the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009

EA SPORTS is pleased to announce the second of two live qualifiers for the world’s largest soccer videogame tournament will be held in Baltimore, MD on March 21, 2009.

Up-to 256 FIFA Soccer 09 gamers will be battling it out on PLAYSTATION 3 consoles at McKeldin Square, Inner Harbor, at the corner of Light Street and Pratt Street for one of three spots for the national final. Entrants in Baltimore will be competing for a prize package valued at $2,000 and three berths in the National Final in New York City.

Registration for competitors will start at 9am and end at 2pm. The first round of the East Coast Conference Final will being at 11 am in the morning.

Santino Quaranta, DC United midfielder will also be making a personal appearance to meet with gamers, sign autographs and will be available interviews. Quaranta has played for the US Men’s Team as well as representing USA at U-20 and U-17 level.

Quaranta first shot onto the scene when he was chosen as 8th overall draft pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. At 16 years, four months, Quaranta surpassed fellow D.C. player Bobby Convey as the youngest player in the history of MLS, a record which would subsequently be taken by another fellow United player, Freddy Adu.

The FIWC North American National Final will take place on April 4 at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York City, NY. It will be comprised of eight finalists (3 from each regional tournament and 2 online qualifiers) competing for the North American championship and a trip to Barcelona for the chance to be crowned the best virtual soccer player in the world and receive a $20,000 1st place prize.

To learn more about FIFA 09 visit: http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/FIFA/FIWC

Developed in Burnaby, B.C., by EA Canada, FIFA Soccer 09 is localized in 17 languages and sold in 37 countries – it is the most popular franchise globally for EA SPORTS. FIFA 09 is rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB.

---

---