The Esports Foundation (EF) has officially welcomed French esports powerhouse Karmine Corp into the Esports World Cup (EWC) Club Partner Program for the 2026 season.

The entry comes just four days after Norwegian organisation’s HEROIC exit from the program. HEROIC was stripped of its partner status after dismantling its Dota 2 roster. By stepping into the vacant slot, Karmine Corp joins the group of 40 partners in the program, unlocking critical financial and promotional resources ahead of the multi-game championship festival.

The induction might serve as a major financial relief package for the Paris-based organization. Last month, Karmine Corp Co-founder and President Kamel “Kameto” Kebir unveiled a cost-cutting roadmap for 2026. Former CEO Arthur Perticoz had previously noted that operating outside of the EWC core membership stripped clubs of roughly $200,000 to $300,000 in base funding. Karmine Corp had been part of the program in 2025.

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Kameto then had announced internal austerity measures including reduced merchandise lines, fewer high-production docuseries, and slashed day-to-day administrative budgets, aiming for a stabilization period in 2026 before aggressively reinvesting in 2027.

The payout from the Esports Foundation—alongside performance incentives that can elevate a partner club’s funding up to $1 million through content creation and marketing milestones—have the power to fundamentally changes Karmine Corp’s immediate fiscal health.

On the other side, by elevating Karmine Corp, the foundation taps directly into the “Blue Wall”—historically one of the most fervent, highly engaged digital fanbases in global sports entertainment.

The news has potential to add massive fuel to rampant industry rumors and reports that the 2026 Esports World Cup will be relocated from Riyadh to Paris due to escalating geopolitical tensions and conflict in the Middle East. With Team Vitality and Gentle Mates, the French capital now counts on three representatives at the EWC Club Partner Program.

Editor’s note: Gentle Mates was added to this story as another organisation from Paris in the EWC Club Partner Program. The article was updated on 22 May.

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