The Esports World Cup Foundation, the organisers of the Esports World Cup, has named the 40 esports organisations that will form its Club Partner Program.
As a result of the expansion, ten additional esports organisation have joined the initiative which began in 2024.
Designed to encourage stability and sustainability within the esports industry, the initiative offers organisations up to $1m (~£769,225) to grow their audiences before and during the Esports World Cup.
According to a release, the expansion to 40 teams is due to the Esports World Cup Foundation seeking greater representation in Asian markets. As a result, the Club Partner Program now features six teams from China which were selected with the assistance of Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent.
The list of teams is as follows: 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, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, ONIC, POWR, 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, and ZETA DIVISION.
Membership in the Esports World Cup Club Partner Program does not guarantee an organisation’s place at the Esports World Cup. All organisations are required to compete in each qualifier to earn a place in the 25 tournaments taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports clubs worldwide,” revealed Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“This year’s 40 partnered clubs represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of global esports. By investing in their growth, the program will enable clubs to expand their audience and reach, strengthen their brands, and gain greater visibility through fan-first content.”
The Esports World Cup Foundation is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Projects backed by the initiative have received criticism for assisting the Kingdom using sport and entertainment to distract from its human rights record.
