Esports World Cup Foundation Club Partner Program

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The Esports World Cup Foundation has opened applications for its 2026 Club Partner Program, which provides a total of $20 million USD in financial incentives to participating organizations.
02
The 2026 program will expand to support 40 international esports organizations, an increase from the 30 clubs selected for the 2025 iteration.
03
Eight organizations have already received direct invites for 2026 based on their 2025 performance: Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, AG.AL, Gen.G Esports, and Weibo Gaming.
04
Selected clubs are expected to demonstrate competitive excellence across multiple titles, maintain a long-term vision, and actively grow fanbases in key regions including India, China, Southeast Asia, and LATAM.
05
Applications for the program are open until December 18, 2025, with the final list of selected partners scheduled to be announced in January 2026.
06
The program is funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund, with tournament operations managed by the ESL FACEIT Group, a subsidiary of the Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group.

Summary

The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially opened applications for its 2026 Club Partner Program, a government-funded initiative designed to incentivize international esports organizations. The program aims to foster long-term sustainability and growth within the industry by providing financial support to clubs that demonstrate competitive excellence, long-term strategic vision, and the ability to engage global fanbases. The foundation has allocated a total of $20 million USD in incentives for the 2026 cycle.

The 2026 program will expand to support 40 international organizations, an increase from the 30 clubs selected in 2025. Eight organizations—Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, AG.AL, Gen.G Esports, and Weibo Gaming—have already secured spots based on their performance in the 2025 Esports World Cup. Selected partners are expected to promote the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and drive community growth in key regions, including India, China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Applications for the program remain open until December 18, 2025, with final selections scheduled for announcement in January 2026. The initiative is directly funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund. While the program is positioned as a tool for industry development and fan engagement, it operates within the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in the global esports ecosystem, a strategy that has faced ongoing scrutiny from international human rights organizations regarding the country's political and social record.