The Esports World Cup in 2025
The Esports World Cup (EWC) has selected 40 esports organizations to participate in the 2025 EWC Foundation Club Partner Program. This initiative, valued at $20 million (~£15.4 million), will offer financial support to major esports teams like Fnatic, G2 Esports, and T1.
The Club Partner Program was introduced last year to promote sustainability among esports clubs. After receiving over 150 applications, 30 organizations joined the program for the first EWC. This year, the participant limit has been raised to 40 teams, with the opportunity to secure up to $1 million (~£771,000) in funding for brand growth and audience expansion through content and marketing efforts.
Organizations were selected based on their performance in the Club Championship 2024, potential across multiple games, social media presence, fan engagement, and audience activation strategies. Additionally, eight clubs received direct invitations due to their ranking in the EWC 2024 Club Championship.
Nineteen new organizations have joined the program this year, while 21 have returned from the previous year. The 2025 program also emphasizes growth in regions like China, with six Chinese clubs participating and additions from Japan, India, and LATAM.
Tencent E-Sports facilitated applications from 20 Chinese teams, thanks to a recent strategic partnership with the EWC.
All 40 Club Partner Program Members
Here is the list of all 40 esports organizations accepted into the 2025 EWC Foundation Club Partner Program:
- 100 Thieves
- All Gamers
- Bilibili Gaming
- Cloud9
- Edward Gaming
- EVOS
- FaZe Clan
- Fnatic
- FURIA
- G2 Esports
- Gaimin Gladiators
- Gen.G
- Gentle Mates
- HEROIC
- JD Gaming
- Karmine Corp.
- Movistar KOI
- LEVIATAN
- PWR
- REJECT
- S8UL
- Sentinels
- T1
- Team BDS
- Team Falcons
- Team Liquid
- Team RRQ
- Team Secret
- Team Spirit
- Team Vitality
- Twisted Minds
- virtus.pro
- Weibo Gaming
- Wolves Esports
- ZETA DIVISION
The Esports World Cup is a significant esports event held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Organized primarily by the Saudi Arabian government-backed EWC Foundation, the first edition featured over 20 tournaments and a $60 million (~£45.4 million) prize pool.
For the 2025 event, titles like VALORANT, Counter-Strike, and Chess have already been confirmed. However, the EWC has faced criticism from some in the esports community who view it and Saudi Arabia’s growing presence as a form of ‘esportswashing’ to divert attention from human rights concerns.