The Esports World Cup (EWC) has officially announced that it has launched its first official trading card collection through a multi-year partnership with Kolex, an online platform where fans can buy, sell, trade, and play with licensed esports trading cards.
The Esports Foundation (EF) mentioned in the official announcement that trading cards have been part of sports culture for more than 100 years, appearing in baseball, football, Formula 1, and the FIFA World Cup. They turn athletes into collectible figures and have historically helped build connections between fans across generations. The EWC is now applying that same format to esports.
Because the EWC brings together players from many different games under one tournament, rather than focusing on a single title, the card collection contains that same mix. Cards feature players and clubs from across the various esports titles included in the event, all within one collection.
The inaugural set honors standout players and clubs from EWC 2025 and is organised into six categories: Legends, MVPs, Rookies, Centurions, Prestige, and the one-of-one Elite and Chronicles cards. However, some of the rarest cards will not be finalised until certain moments happen during the tournament itself, meaning results and standout performances at EWC 2026 will directly shape which cards become available.
The collection is being sold in two box formats:
- EWC 2025 Starter Box — 25 cards for €29.99 (approximately $34.67 USD)
- EWC 2025 Hobby Box — 120 cards for €99.99 (approximately $115.59 USD)
However, when we checked the official Esports World Cup online store, both collections were initially listed as out of stock. A few hours later, the product listings had been taken down entirely, with the pages returning a “page not found” error.
Alongside the cards themselves, the EWC and Kolex plan to hold pack openings, player signing events, and limited-edition card releases throughout the seven-week tournament, extending activities beyond the matches happening in the arena.
Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of The Esports Foundation, said, “Every Esports World Cup creates unforgettable champions, breakout stars and defining moments. Our trading cards turn those moments into lasting collectibles, giving fans around the world a new way to celebrate the players and Clubs at the heart of the competition while building a collection that will become part of the tournament’s legacy.”
The EWC and Kolex are not alone in betting on physical cards. Riot Games, which owns several esports titles, publishes its own trading card game, Riftbound, and recently worked with South Korean organisation T1 on a limited-edition card release tied to the team. Closer to the EWC’s host city, French organisation Karmine Corp has built its own tactical trading card game, Blue Rising, while fellow French org Gentle Mates has likewise moved into physical trading cards as a new line of business.
