Gaming
Soccer (Football)
Dallas soccer fans show out for Red Bull’s Coded Cleats debut competition
Not even the rain could deter hundreds of passionate soccer fans at the game-changing event
The Red Bull Coded Cleats competition made its debut in Dallas, bringing together soccer and gaming fans, and not even the rain could keep away ardent soccer fans away.
This past weekend - beginning Saturday, June 6 - Coded Cleats kicked off the first-ever event of its kind. The event brought several Red Bull athletes together as they combined elements of gaming and soccer in this special hybrid event. Over the weekend, Red Bull transformed the AT&T Discovery District into a futuristic soccer pitch. Teams of six players competed throughout multiple seven-minute rounds of soccer, with four on the field, and two players on game consoles. The physical matches and the gaming matches took place simultaneously. During halftime, players on the console would switch out with two players on the pitch, with goals on the console and the pitch counting toward the overall totals - with the team scoring the highest claiming overall victory.
Learn more about what is Red Bull Coded Cleats
Players compete on pitch and console in real time
© Karlo Ramos / Red Bull Content Pool
The competition kicked off at the qualifier at City Futsal, located near Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood. 24 teams competed in the qualifier, which would then narrow down the eight teams who would compete the following day.
The eight teams who made it to the championships were Free Agents, Beershot, Jojabonito, Los boys, FutKingz, Joga Bonito, Legion x Leon and Master Joga. Also in attendance were on-air personality Chelsea Cabarcas, who was emcee-ing the event along with Red Bull player Mike LaBelle, a Houston native and one of the biggest names in the world of EAFC.
“The most thrilling part of being here is that everything happens all at once,” Labelle said. “You can't really plan for it. Everybody has to adjust on the fly, whether you're playing on the actual pitch or you're on the virtual pitch.
You see the scoreline change as it goes.”
Dallas has been preparing for an onslaught of soccer fans traveling from various parts of the world. While hundreds of soccer fans were in attendance of the Red Bull Coded Cleats matches on Saturday, this is only a taste of what’s to come for the city in the weeks ahead.
“Dallas has done a wonderful job developing and preparing for an influx of soccer fans,” said LaBelle. “And as they always say, everything's bigger in Texas.”
Players competing on console in real time
© Ryan Dearth / Red Bull Content Pool
On-field action heats up during Red Bull Coded Cleats competition
© Karlo Ramos / Red Bull Content Pool
Speaking of bigger, attendees got to see the game - both on the pitch, and via the consoles - on a large screen displaying from the side of a building in the Discovery District. The screen allowed viewers to watch both the physical and digital games in real time.
In on the action was Argentine soccer player and TikTok star Pablo Zolezzi. Zolezzi was part of the Los Boyz, who, unfortunately, were eliminated early on in the championship. But Zolezzi simply does it all for the love of the game.
“I love Red Bull, I love soccer, but having two things that I love at the same time is amazing,” said Zolezzi. “
When putting on an event so detailed and nuanced, challenges are bound to arise. But the evening posed quite a few unforeseen hindrances, including several thunderstorms. As a result, a few of the semifinal and final matches were delayed. But the passion of the fans and players outweighed the tumultuous storms. Several waited in the rain as the games continued, and DJ Jonny Blendz kept the energetic tunes spinning throughout the evening.
Upon return, the semifinals kicked off with FutKings, Joga Bonito, Legion x Leon, and Master Joga giving it their all. Following a series of four games, the finalists came down to Legion x Leon and Master Joga.
But once again, storms posed some delays — this time, even longer. However, many fans were determined to see how this game-changing event would play out.
The finalists came down to Legion x Leon and Master Joga. While the competition proved tough, there could only be one winner, and Legion x Leon came in first at the inaugural coded cleats, leading the final match 28 to 19.
Legion x Leon faced Master Joga in the final match
© Karlo Ramos / Red Bull Content Pool
“It was fun, and it was a different experience, but it was cool, we feel good,” said Legion x Leon player David Ortiz.
“It was a good experience, and I had fun playing with my friends,” said Felipe Arce a.k.a Saucy. “Hopefully, we can come play again next year.”
Following the final game, Gabriel Garcia of Legion x Leon was named MVP after earning the most goals in both the virtual game and the field game.
