Tottenham Hotspur have partnered with North American esports platform PlayVS to launch Game to Glory, a new initiative bringing football and gaming together for students across the United States.

⚽️ Tottenham Hotspur Game to Glory is here!
Think you’re the best in EA SPORTS FC™ 26? Prove it with @SpursOfficial
🎮 Free to enter
📣 Ages 13–22
🗓️ Qualifier 1: Oct 10 – 12
⏳ Sign ups close soon → https://t.co/BUWhlnUDpG pic.twitter.com/JPvdWVI2iE

— PlayVS (@playvs) September 29, 2025

The programme is designed to give fans aged between 13 and 22 the chance to connect with one of the Premier League’s most iconic clubs through esports. Students will take part in two EA Sports FC 26 tournaments running in October, with the competition culminating in a live-streamed grand final on November 10, 2025.

According to Spurs, Game to Glory is about more than just gaming. The initiative will give young players an opportunity to engage with the club’s heritage through branded competitions, interactive livestreams, and content featuring prominent creators.

Will Hattam, Marketing Director at Tottenham Hotspur, explained the club’s vision:

“Tottenham Hotspur is committed to finding innovative ways to connect with fans, and Game To Glory gives us the opportunity to inspire young audiences in the U.S. through a passion for football and gaming. By partnering with PlayVS, we can share the heritage of our Club, build connections, and inspire passion for football at a time when the sport’s growth in the United States is building towards next summer’s FIFA World Cup.”

Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS, added:

“This programme is truly unique, and PlayVS is proud to partner with Tottenham Hotspur to bring the excitement and passion of their club to students across the U.S. Together, we’re opening new ways for young fans to connect with one of the world’s most iconic soccer clubs while building community and inspiring the next generation.”

Growing Spurs’ Presence in Esports

The collaboration adds Tottenham to a growing list of football clubs using esports to engage with global audiences. Manchester City, SC Internacional and others have already embraced similar initiatives, with some clubs even fielding competitive rosters in esports titles.

Esports organisations have also been dipping their toes into the world of football. Earlier this year, G2 Esports launched G2 Football Club to compete in Kings League Germany, a seven-a-side football league created by streamer Ibai Llanos and former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.

For PlayVS, the partnership continues its rapid expansion. In August, the company struck a deal with The Pokémon Company to bring Pokémon UNITE into its scholastic esports leagues, strengthening its portfolio across both sports and gaming.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon and football’s popularity in the U.S. on the rise, Game to Glory looks set to create a fresh pathway for students to get involved with competitive gaming while connecting with Tottenham’s long-standing football culture.

Registrations and full details for the competition are now available at gametoglory.gg.

The post Tottenham Hotspur and PlayVS Team Up for ‘Game to Glory’ Youth Gaming Challenge appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In a move that blends childhood nostalgia with the fast-growing world of esports, PlayVS has teamed up with The Pokémon Company International to bring Pokémon UNITE to middle and high school classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Starting this Fall season, students will now be able to play the beloved franchise competitively through their schools, officially, and for free.

Pokémon UNITE is officially joining scholastic esports.

We’ve partnered with @Pokemon to bring competitive leagues to middle and high schools across the U.S. and Canada.

Build your team. Represent your school. Compete this fall.

Details → https://t.co/WDJfkKBrbe pic.twitter.com/o8ogKVD689

— PlayVS (@playvs) August 5, 2025

This marks a pretty massive moment, not just for Pokémon fans, but for scholastic esports in general. It’s the first time The Pokémon Company has partnered with a third party like this to run an official school league. Basically, Pokémon just went from your childhood after-school activity to a legitimate varsity-level competition.

So, what is PlayVS?

If you haven’t heard of PlayVS (Play Versus) before, it’s the leading amateur esports platform in North America. Think of it as the platform that brings organised, competitive gaming into schools, just like school rugby or netball. PlayVS works with high schools, middle schools, and even colleges to give students access to structured esports leagues, complete with coaches, schedules, leaderboards, and real prizes.

PlayVS Cup High School Competition | Image Credit: PlayVS

They’re officially partnered with big names like the NFHS Network, Special Olympics, and a heap of state and regional bodies. And now, with Pokémon UNITE on board, they’re levelling up even further.

Pokémon UNITE: In the classroom, for real?

Yep, it’s happening. After a small pilot season earlier this year, PlayVS is now making it official. Pokémon UNITE, a team-based 5v5 MOBA game that’s free to play on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, is joining their competitive line-up.

Image credit: The Pokémon Company International

What makes this a great fit for schools? The game’s all about teamwork. Players have to strategise, communicate, level up their Pokémon, and outplay the other team, all within a tight time limit. It’s fast, fun, and (surprisingly) full of life skills like critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration.

As Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS, put it:

“Bringing Pokémon UNITE into the classroom through structured competition is a meaningful step forward for PlayVS and scholastic esports as a whole. Pokémon has inspired generations of players, and we’re proud to help students connect with the franchise in a new and competitive way.”

What’s in it for the students?

Aside from getting to play Pokémon at school (which is already a dream come true), teams who dominate their local competition will get invited to the PlayVS Cup, the national championship event. There, they’ll compete for scholarships and national bragging rights.

Guess I need to make the Pokémon Unite club at school this year 😳 https://t.co/fe9lxMPv0m

— Mr. Professor Di 🤘🏻 (@MrProfDi) August 6, 2025

And while Pokémon UNITE is the headline this season, PlayVS already supports a stack of other popular titles like League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch 2, Call of Duty, and more through their PlayVS College League and high school offerings.

Pokémon isn’t just for kids anymore

Let’s be real, Pokémon never really left our lives. But seeing it take this big leap into structured school competitions is huge. It shows how much the world of gaming, and especially esports in education, has grown.

Now, with this partnership, kids who once battled Team Rocket on the couch can now compete for real-life titles, scholarships, and a chance to be part of something bigger, all while playing one of the world’s most beloved franchises.

Wanna get involved?

Schools across the U.S. and Canada can sign up for the Fall season and learn more over at playvs.com.

The post Pokémon UNITE Joins Scholastic Esports Thanks to PlayVS Partnership appeared first on Shane the Gamer.