Esports World Cup Reveals 40 Partners of Club Partner Program

Written by Dante Uzel on 18 March 2025 12:15

The Esports World Cup (EWC) has unveiled the 40 esports organizations selected for its 2025 EWC Foundation Club Partner Program. The $20 million initiative is designed to provide financial backing to some of the most prominent esports teams globally. Among the notable teams participating are Fnatic, G2 Esports, and T1, with the program focusing on supporting teams with strong performance potential, significant social media presence, fan engagement, and audience activation strategies.

This year, the EWC Foundation Club Partner Program has seen a mix of returning and new organizations. Of the 40 teams, 19 are joining the initiative for the first time, while 21 have returned from the previous year’s program. The 2025 edition also emphasizes expanding into high-growth regions, with six teams from China and new additions from Japan, India, and Latin America (LATAM).

Tencent, which recently formed a strategic partnership with the EWC, facilitated applications for the 20 Chinese teams that were involved in the selection process.

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The Esports World Cup is an annual multi-title festival held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is organized by the Saudi government-backed EWC Foundation. The inaugural event featured over 20 tournaments and a $60 million (~£45.4 million) prize pool. The 2025 event is expected to feature some of the biggest esports titles, including VALORANT, Counter-Strike, and Chess.

While the EWC continues to grow, it has faced criticism from some members of the esports community. Detractors argue that the EWC and the increased influence of Saudi Arabia in the esports scene may be seen as a form of "esportswashing," designed to divert attention from the country's human rights concerns. In addition, the EWC has been accused of missing payments for staff, players, teams, and talent earlier this month, adding further controversy to the event.

The following is the full list of the 40 esports organizations accepted into the 2025 EWC Foundation Club Partner Program: