MIAMI, USA — The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced yesterday that it is launching the inaugural CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup.

The competition, being held in conjunction with FIFA and EA SPORTS, will give fans from all of CONCACAF’s member associations the opportunity to represent their national association and play for a chance to be crowned champion of CONCACAF.

Online qualification will take place on the SONY PlayStation3 computer entertainment system through Season 6 of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2013 (FIWC13) played on EA SPORTS FIFA 13, which kicked off on March 1.

CONCACAF will host each of the 12 finalists in the United States for the finals in an on-site tournament. The two finalists will then play for the virtual title on the stadium screen in front of thousands of people at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals.

In addition to the title, the winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, which will be played on July 28 at a venue to be revealed next month. After the completion of the championship game, the first-ever CONCACAF interactive champion will be presented with a trophy in front of the crowd at the closing ceremony.

“The passion for football takes shape in many different ways throughout many different platforms,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

“The first-ever CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup is a unique way to provide a platform where our premier National Team competition merges with the video gaming space and allows the virtual athletes to compete for the glory of the 2013 trophy in front of thousands of people inside of a real football stadium,” the Caymanian added.

To enter the interactive tournament and obtain its rules, participants must visit https://www.concacafinteractive.com.

The 12 national teams have qualified for this year’s tournament are Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States.

Taking place every two years and showcasing the confederation’s best players, the Gold Cup has established itself as the confederation’s most popular national team tournament, routinely drawing capacity crowds and millions of television viewers.

This year’s Gold Cup — the 12th edition — will open on July 7 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, with a double-header featuring six-time champion Mexico.