Everything You Need to Know about the Esports World Cup

After months of intense preparation and tense qualifiers, the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup has finally arrived. Nearly 50 organizations – with players from 84 different countries – will descend on Riyadh to compete for historic prize pools, glory, and the ultimate championship trophy.

Seven weeks of competition, 24 esports titles, and dozens of festival and showcase events make up everything the Esports World Cup has to offer. Below we’ve broken down some of the most important details for easy access. Whether you’re travelling to the event in person or watching from the comfort of your own home, you'll be in for a treat as the world's top players clash on a global stage.

When does the Esports World Cup start?

The Esports World Cup begins on Tuesday, July 8, with matches from titles like Dota 2, Rennsport, and VALORANT. The first championship matches will take place on Thursday, July 10, following the opening ceremony that begins at 10PM KSA / 3PM EST.

Tournaments for a variety of games will run from July 8th all the way until August 24th, make sure to check the Esports World Cup schedule to find out when your favorite players and teams are competing.

How to watch the Esports World Cup

Numerous live streams in a wide range of languages will showcase esports action directly from multiple stages in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Streams in additional languages will be provided by our media partners and co-streamers across the globe on a variety of streaming platforms, ensuring that the world will be watching as competitors take the stage.

You can find streams for your preferred titles right here on the official Esports World Cup site, including broadcasts for VALORANT, Rennsport, Dota 2, Apex Legends, and Fatal Fury. Refer to the Esports World Cup schedule for links to official streams for all competitions.

There are still tickets available if you'd like to attend any part of the Esports World Cup in person. Check out ticket options and choose from weekly passes and tournament passes. Don't wait too long to secure your ticket as some premium options are already sold out.

Watching Along in Your Time Zone

Refer to the Esports World Cup schedule to find the stream times for your favorite games.

Can’t-Miss Viewing at the EWC

The Boulevard in Riyadh is packed full of events over the next two months, including remarkable music performances taking place during the Opening Ceremony this week. The official kickoff to the Esports World Cup will include performances from Post Malone, Dino of SEVENTEEN, Duckwrth, The Word Alive, Alesso, and Tina Guo. This isn't just any opening ceremony, it’ll be an experience to remember.

After the Opening Ceremony, esports’ biggest titles will crown champions every week throughout the next two months. Dota 2 at EWC 25 and VALORANT at EWC are the biggest of opening week, but competitions featuring League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, EA Sports FC, and dozens of other titles will follow shortly after.

If you can't tune into the action during the week, make sure you’re locked in for Championship Weekends. Each week – from Friday until Sunday – titles will crown their champions in finals matches.

Who Will Rise Above in the Club Championship?

The EWC Club Championship is the ultimate competition to decide which esports organization will come out on top over the next seven weeks. Organizations will earn points based on their teams and players performances across multiple esports, adding a new level of competition that spans the entire Esports World Cup.

Each weekend, we’ll crown new Champions and we'll name a Club of the Week, the club who has scored the most Club Championship points. The EWC Club Championship winner will be declared at the end of the event. As one of the only systems in esports that rewards organizations for their overall competitive excellence, the Club Championship is a marker of team skill, strategic depth, and overall organizational strength.