DMV-native and Five-Time North American Champion Enters Fourth Year with the Club
Washington, D.C. (Feb. 6, 2024) - D.C. United have today announced that the club have re-signed eMLS star Mohamed “KingCJ0” Alioune Diop. Diop, an Arlington, Va., native, originally signed with D.C. United in 2020 as the club’s second official professional eSports athlete to compete in the eMLS series.
"I’m honored and humbled to re-sign with D.C. United as their official eSports player,” Diop said. "Representing the Black-and-Red on the global eSports stage brings me tremendous pride and I want to thank the club for giving me this opportunity. Vamos United!"
The five-time North American Champion has flourished in his three seasons with D.C. United, finishing in the top three of the 2022 eMLS Regular Season standings and runner-up of the 2022 eMLS Cup. Now entering his fourth year with the club, Diop is the only North American player to qualify for NGS, eClub, and eNations playoffs.
“D.C. United are ecstatic to bring back Mohamed Alioune Diop for another season with the Black-and-Red,” said Lisa Franklin, Chief Marketing Officer, D.C. United. “The eSports industry is enjoying rapid growth, popularity, as well as innovation and is primed to help reshape the ways we view live entertainment. Our club is committed to growth on and off the pitch and we are looking forward to continuing to grow and invest in this area. King CJ has been a vital part of our growth in the gaming industry, represented our club with tremendous success, and we couldn’t be happier to re-sign him.”
The eMLS 2024 season marks the debut of EA SPORTS FC™ 24 as the exclusive platform for all eMLS matches and its inaugural season as part of a new era of football esports with FC Pro. The competitive calendar will feature two marquee League Series events in February and March, concluding with the eMLS Cup on March 10 in Austin during South by Southwest (SXSW). The season format will be as follows:
- eMLS League Series 1: The 2024 season kicks off on Feb. 16 with remote qualifiers followed by the group stage on Feb. 17 and bracket final on Feb. 18.
- eMLS League Series 2: The season continues March 1 with remote qualifiers, the group stage on March 2 and bracket final on March 3.
- eMLS Cup: The season will conclude in Austin at SXSW, with the group stage on March 9 and the fan-facing live bracket final on March 10 at ACL Live.
Full Name: Mohamed Alioune Diop
Twitch Channel: KingCJ0__
Twitter: KingCJ0
Instagram: mohamedalioune
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
Birthplace: Arlington, Va.
Country: United States
About D.C. United
One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.
D.C. United have called the District home for the past 27 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round, including the District’s premier arts, culinary, and music festival, Unite the District Fest. Audi Field is also home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group.
The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013). For more information and club updates, please visit www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @dcunited.
About eMLS
eMLS is the gaming and esports property of Major League Soccer. Built around the EA SPORTS™ FC franchise, its goal is to utilize gaming to reach global audiences, raise the profile of MLS, and grow its next generation of fans. eMLS has grown from 19 MLS clubs in 2018 to 22 clubs participating in the upcoming 2024 season. For more information, visit www.mlssoccer.com/eMLS.
