LOS ANGELES--Konami has announced that the next installment in its football series will launch in January 2007 on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PC, Xbox 360, and the DS. The game will be called Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 internationally and will have a number of improvements that include new international teams and play modes.

Konami has promised that the game will offer faster gameplay, as players make runs without the ball, identify opportunities, and point to where they want the ball delivered. Defenders will jockey for position and strikers will work to turn their opponent as they receive the ball, as well as take more snap shots and precision volleys.

Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 will also offer new play modes, including an international challenge with four continents to play through, a random match selector that will create a team of players at random from a chosen league or area, and a master league mode that will last longer than before.

Konami has managed to acquire more international licenses for the title, so Argentina, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden will all have the correct player names. There will be more club teams with accurate details when the game is released next year. We'll get an early play of the game at Konami's booth when it opens tomorrow, so we'll update you with our impressions shortly.