EFL and Genius Sports partner to launch the first lower league fantasy football game
Fantasy EFL will be the first fantasy football game involving all teams across England’s second, third and fourth divisions
The SkyBet-sponsored English Football League (EFL) has partnered with New York-listed Genius Sports to release the first ever free-to-play fantasy football game to feature EFL member clubs.
Fantasy EFL will involve 72 EFL clubs across 1,600 fixtures during the 2024/25 season, and will be available on the web as well as an app for iOS and Android.
Gameweeks will take place from Thursday through to Wednesday to accommodate for midweek EFL fixtures.
Players will have the chance to select seven players across all three EFL divisions (Championship, League One and League Two) with no budget restrictions.
Two players from each club can be chosen per game week, and there will be no limit on player transfers week to week.
Managers will also be able to select two EFL clubs per week, which can score the player points based on the team’s results in that week’s round of fixtures, but players will only be able to pick the same EFL team up to five times a season.
EFL chief executive, Trevor Birch, said: “We’re very excited to bring the EFL’s first fantasy football game to life as a central product that engages not only with supporters of all 72 EFL clubs but also the wider football audience.
“We’ve interrogated research into what fans would want out of an EFL fantasy football game and been strategic on a providing a product that isn’t just a copy of what is already in the market.
“Fantasy EFL is a premium product that enhances the EFL brand and opens further opportunities with our broadcasters and commercial partners. Alongside Genius Sports, Fantasy EFL appeals to both the avid and casual fan and will expand the rising interest in the Sky Bet EFL, our clubs and their players beyond fans who attend matches and those who watch along at home,” he added.
Genius Sports first made the foray into free-to-play content back in March, releasing several interactive games.
Genius Sports’ chief partnerships officer Steven Burton remarked: “Fantasy EFL is unique, interactive and fun, and Genius Sports is delighted to deliver this exciting new game for the EFL and its member clubs.
“This new game will test fans’ knowledge of both teams and individual players while providing them with a platform to compete with their friends and family every week.”