Investing into Global Ecosystem Growth
In 2023, the Esports World Cup Foundation launched the EWCF Club Support Program - an industry-leading initiative designed to promote sustainable planning for esports Clubs, unite global gaming fans under one collective banner, and promote the Esports World Cup across the globe, elevating the best athletes in the world. 2025, the Esports World Cup Foundation is boosting this initiative and is launching a new and enhanced version - the EWCF Club Partner Program.
Overall, the EWCF Club Partner Program will invest a total of $20M into the esports ecosystem to elevate participating Clubs on a global scale, promoting a sustainable ecosystem and enabling the growth of esports as a global sport.
Faisal bin Homran
Chief Product Officer, EWCF
"The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports Clubs worldwide while creating opportunities for organizations from some of the world’s fastest-growing markets. This year’s 40 partnered Clubs represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of global esports, spanning legacy organizations, rising stars and global powerhouses that collectively define the rich history and the rapidly evolving future of the industry. By investing in their growth, the program will enable Clubs to expand their audience and reach, strengthen their brands, and gain greater visibility through fan-first content, shaping the future of esports as a global sport and mainstream entertainment."
The 2025 Club Partner Program
With this year’s focus on high-growth regions, the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Program represents a truly global roster, including six Clubs from China, alongside additions from rapidly expanding markets like Japan, India, and LATAM. The full lineup of Clubs, in alphabetic order: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION.
The 2025 Club Program applications in China were supported by Tencent E-Sports, who have facilitated the process for 20 Clubs that have applied. Six Clubs were selected, including All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Edward Gaming, JD Gaming, Weibo Gaming, and Wolves Esports—China’s most dominant teams, engaging over 125 million Chinese fans through gaming, entertainment, and lifestyle content. Additionally, eStar, as part of NIP, has also been added to the lineup, further serving the expansion of the Club Partner Program in China and activating Chinese fans.
All Clubs were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that reviewed nearly 200 applications. This included assessing their competitive track record in the Club Championship in 2024, their potential across multiple games, social media presence, fan engagement, and their strategic plans for activating their global esports audience. Eight Clubs received direct invitations based on their EWC 2024 Club Championship ranking, while the remaining spots were allocated through an open application process. Nineteen Clubs joined for the first time, and 21 returned from the inaugural year.
How does the EWCF Club Partner Program 2025 work?
Clubs will receive a six-figure base funding to grow their organization in 2025 and activate their brand, players and fans during Esports World Cup 2025. Additional funding is provided through different activities, campaigns and bounties, leading up to EWC25, based on merit and metrics.
A Club's acceptance and participation in the program does not guarantee a spot at the Esports World Cup 2025. All Clubs will be required to qualify through traditional methods to earn their spot in each game’s EWC tournament.
FAQ
What is the EWCF Club Partner Program?
The Club Partner Program, launched in 2023, is an industry-leading program which includes top tier esports clubs from around the world. It focuses on uniting esports fans across all game ecosystems through its partnered clubs, with the goal of growing the global fanbase of esports.
How much funding is available to clubs through this program?
Each successful club that joins our program will be eligible to a six-figure payout directly tied to the Clubs ability to grow their following and engagement with their fans leading up to and during the Esports World Cup 2025.
How many clubs will be a part of the program?
We will accept a total of 40 clubs into the program: up to eight top Clubs from the EWC 2024 Championship ranking will receive direct invitations, while the remaining spots will be available through the open application process.
Who can apply for the EWCF Club Program?
EWC Club Program applicants will need to be existing private entities with a history of competition in multiple esports games, with a tenure of success in domestic and international tournaments. Clubs should apply as individual entities; consortiums or partnered applications are not allowed.
Does being part of the program guarantee a spot in the EWC tournaments?
No, The program does not provide any competitive advantages in the tournament. All partnered clubs will follow the same rules and regulations as non-partnered clubs and have to run through the game-specific qualification systems for each title.
Are there any mandatory requirements for the applications?
Clubs need to be a registered business entity in their jurisdiction and have a record of fielding multiple rosters in different game ecosystems, as well as a substantial social media following.
Who does the club need to contact if they have questions?
Please contact ewcfclubprogram@esportsworldcup.com. Please note that due to the high number of applications we cannot answer general inquiries about the current status of the application and the process.
About the Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup Foundation is a nonprofit organization chartered with organizing the Esports World Cup.
The Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. Which features a unique cross-game competition structure that will pit the world’s top elite esports athletes against one another, across multiple game titles for the largest-ever prize pool.
Debuting in summer 2024, The Esports World Cup will return in 2025 bigger than ever. Gamers, publishers, and fans from around the globe will come together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to crown the 2025 esports champions.