The qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cup 2010 have just been drawn, but why wait until then when gamers across the world are battling out to be crowned champion on EA's FIFA 08?

Since the launch of the game in September, over 10,000 players from 25 countries and five continents have been battling it out for top spot on the leaderboard in the online part of the competition via PlayStation Network.

Over the next five months, live qualifying events will take place in varying locations across the world - starting off in Denmark, the Netherlands and Hungary before moving on to places like Korea and Portugal in the search for the world's best interactive soccer player.

"The FIFA Interactive World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for all football fans to show off their skills and passion for the sport with FIFA 08," said Ronaldinho, who featured on the cover of the game across the world. "It is a great tournament in which you have to train and work hard to succeed - just like in real football, so I invite all fans to register and enjoy this party of interactive football."

On May 24 2008, the 32 finalists will travel to the Sony Centre in Berlin to compete for the ultimate prize of FIFA Interactive World Player 2008. The winner will receive an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008 and a cash prize of USD 20,000.

Last year's winner, Andries Smit, 18, from The Hague, Netherlands, has already booked his place in the Grand Final for the second time in a row, together with Christian Lonhart, 15, from Bagsvaerd, Denmark and Roland Csaszar, 17, from Budapest, Hungary.

So if you can beat all of your friends, flatmates and work buddies, why not hunt down an event near you, and see if you can beat the best?