Team Liquid has released a statement regarding their involvement as a partner team of the Esports World Cup, clarifying that they are “committed to encouraging further change within the region.”
The 2025 Esports World Cup announced its Club Partner Program which features 40 organisations from across the globe, including the likes of 100 Thieves, T1, Team Vitality and, of course, Team Liquid. In recent years, the event has faced backlash due to being operated by the Saudi Arabia government, with some questioning the country’s human rights laws, in particular around LGBTQ+ issues.
Team Liquid released a statement on May 12, explaining their position after joining the partner program. They said:
“Despite the rapid progress we are seeing, we remain committed to encouraging further change within the region. We recognize meaningful improvements, including the recent release of political prisoners and broader efforts to implement reforms and reduce isolation on the world stage … At the same time, we hope to see continued progress, including the release of more political prisoners, especially those who have campaigned for equal rights and labor protections, as well as the removal of travel restrictions on those released prisoners and activists.”
The statement went on to explain that they are reaffirming commitment to marginalised groups through various measures.
“We will continue to wear our Pride Jerseys through June and July across the entire globe, including at the EWC, with all proceeds benefiting LGBTQ+ organizations local to our core regions: NA, EU, and Brazil. We will continue to donate $50,000 USD to Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide escape persecution. We will also keep working toward an esports world where LGBTQ+ people can thrive, no matter the political climate.”
The statement added that they have to compete on the biggest stages and at the biggest events if they want to be a multi-generational esports organisation, and the Esports World Cup clearly counts among those.
