Starting with the month of October, many FIFA fans around the world have competed against each other to qualify in the ultimate FIFA 07 challenge which will take place on the 9th of December.

After the keyboard-breaking and strategic-filled qualifying matches, 128 players have secured a place in the FIFA Interactive World Player Grand Final. All of them will get an all expenses paid trip to Amsterdam, Holland.

They will face each other to become the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2006 champion and get a US$ 20,000 prize. They have to be at 16:00 Central European Time at Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam and the winner of the event will be invited to attend the FIFA World Player Gala 2006 at the Opera House in Zurich on Monday, the 18th of December.

If you didn't take part in one of the 38 qualifying events which took place all around the world, don't worry, there is still next year. Over 30,000 matches were played during these qualifiers, including the ones played by those who qualified over Xbox Live. In this year's event, 68 winners and finalists from the qualifiers and 44 winners and runner-ups from the Xbox Live tournament will face 16 finalists from the previous two tournaments. All of the competitors will play FIFA 07 in Microsoft's Xbox 360 and spectators will be able to watch them only if they book free tickets on the official FIFA website.

I would have participated in the tournament myself, as I am a big FIFA maniac, but I dislike the Xbox 360 version. I am more dedicated to my trusty keyboard, even though it seems much easier to play a football sim on a gamepad.