The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has commenced the application period for its 2026 Club Partner Program, reiterating its $20 million commitment. The initiative is designed to provide financial and strategic support to elite esports clubs, with the stated objective of supporting them to expand their international reach and strengthen fan engagement.

Building upon a framework established in previous years, the 2026 program will select 40 leading clubs to participate. The objective is to accelerate the growth of these organisations by offering modular funding for marketing campaigns and community initiatives, with a particular focus on engaging audiences in key growth regions such as India, China, Southeast Asia, and LATAM. Applications are open to clubs worldwide until 18 December 2025.

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Hans Jagnow, Director of Club and Player Relations at the EWCF, commented on the program’s goals: “Our focus for 2026 is to deepen our global reach, supporting Clubs as they grow their communities and bringing new audiences into the world of esports. This program is not only about sustainability, but also about building the next generation of esports fandom.”

The selection process will see eight clubs receiving direct invitations based on their performance in the 2025 Esports World Cup Championship ranking. These clubs are Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, AG.AL, Gen.G Esports, and Weibo Gaming, subject to their acceptance. The remaining spots will be filled through the open application, with clubs assessed on competitive excellence across multiple titles, long-term vision, and community engagement capabilities.

This structure follows the 2025 program, which reviewed nearly 200 applications and selected 40 clubs, 19 of which were new to the initiative. Initiatives included a Superfan program that brought 2,000 fans to Riyadh.

It is important to note that membership in the program is renewed annually and does not guarantee qualification for the Esports World Cup 2026, for which clubs must qualify through standard competitive pathways. The full list of clubs selected for the 2026 program is scheduled to be announced in January 2026.

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