Esports World Cup Reveals Official Trading Card Collection, Bringing One of Sport's Most Enduring Traditions to Esports

PARIS/RIYADH (August 10, 2026) – The Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) today unveiled its first official Trading Card Collection, bringing one of global sport's most enduring traditions to competitive gaming and giving fans a new way to own a piece of esports history.

The launch is part of the EWC's inaugural international edition in Paris, where more than 2,000 players representing 200 Clubs from over 100 countries are competing over seven weeks at the world's largest esports and gaming event.

For more than a century, trading cards have helped define the fan experience across the world's biggest sports. From baseball and football to Formula 1 and the FIFA World Cup, they have transformed athletes into collectibles, creating lasting connections between generations of fans and the competitions they love.

Now, the Esports World Cup is bringing that tradition to global esports.

Developed through a multi-year partnership with Kolex, the inaugural collection honors the standout players and Clubs of EWC 2025 with collectible cards, creating an annual record of the Esports World Cup.

Unlike traditional esports competitions centered on a single title, the EWC 2026 brings together the world's leading games, players, and Clubs under one banner. The Trading Card Collection reflects that scale, featuring competitors from across multiple esports alongside the Clubs they represent in a single collection.

The collection commemorates the players of the Esports World Cup, featuring players and Clubs across six card collections: Legends, MVPs, Rookies, Centurions, Prestige, and the one-of-one Elite and Chronicles cards. The first 100 of each base card are individually numbered and include a digital twin for collectors. Some of the rarest cards will only become possible because of performances that unfold during the tournament itself, ensuring the competition continues to shape the collection as history is made.

“Every Esports World Cup creates unforgettable champions, breakout stars and defining moments”, said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, The Esports Foundation. “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."

Beyond collecting, pack openings, player signings and limited-edition releases extend the EWC experience outside the arena throughout the tournament. Every card features a QR code that unlocks a digital twin in the Kolex app, allowing fans to connect their physical collection with a digital one. By scanning cards, collectors can earn points, compete on global leaderboards, and unlock rewards as the tournament unfolds.

The launch continues the Esports Foundation's commitment to establishing the traditions that define major global sporting events. Following the introduction of the EWC Player's Jacket and annual apparel collections, the Trading Card Collection adds another enduring symbol of the Esports World Cup.

The inaugural collection marks the beginning of an annual series that will chronicle every edition of the Esports World Cup.

The inaugural EWC Trading Card Collection will be available through the official online store, at the EWC Fan Fest in Paris, and at Kolex.com.

Tickets for the EWC 2026 are available now at esportsworldcup.com.

About The Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world's top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Hosted in Paris, France, in the summer of 2026, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. esportsworldcup.com