French football club FC Lorient has embarked on an exciting journey by teaming up with the renowned Indian esports organization, S8UL Esports, for the upcoming 2025-26 eLigue1 campaign. This partnership marks a significant step for both entities, blending the competitive worlds of football and esports.
As part of this collaboration, Julien ‘Fouma’ Perbal and Jonas ‘Jonny’ Wirth from S8UL will represent FC Lorient in the tournament, adding to their impressive roster. FC Lorient has been a powerhouse in French EAFC esports, clinching every eLigue1 title since 2021. Fouma has played a pivotal role during this period, contributing significantly to the team’s triumphs.
The Rise of S8UL Esports
S8UL Esports is relatively new to the EAFC esports arena, having entered the fray before the Esports World Cup 2025. The Mumbai-based organization quickly established itself as a force to reckon with, becoming a partnered team within the Esports World Cup Partner Programme. This initiative rewarded new entrants like S8UL with incentives for diversifying into fresh esports titles. S8UL’s commitment to EAFC has been unwavering, highlighted by signing Fouma on October 1st, 2025. E.J Wilson, Head of Partnerships for S8UL Esports, mentioned that this marks their first collaboration with a football club in the esports realm.
What is the eLigue1?
eLigue1 is orchestrated by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the prestigious governing body overseeing major French football leagues. Though the exact schedule for eLigue1 2026 remains under wraps, it’s anticipated to commence between early to mid-January 2026, concluding by late April. Historically, the tournament victor secures a direct spot in the FC Pro 24 World Championship, with the top two players advancing to the eChampions League. In 2025, the league featured 11 clubs vying for a share of the €60,000 (~£52,892) prize pool. The competition started with a single-round-robin group phase, followed by single-elimination playoffs for the top six teams. Prominent clubs like PSG, LOSC Esports, and FC Nantes further enhance the league’s reputation.