The Esports Foundation officially announced the 40 clubs selected for the 2026 Esports World Cup Club Partner Program on March 31, 2026. Each club receives up to $1 million in funding, access to the Superfan Program, and strategic support to grow their brand and audience leading into EWC 2026 in Riyadh.
The Esports World Cup runs July 6 to August 23, 2026, with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions in 24 games. The Club Championship awards $30 million to the top 24 performing organizations.
Here is the complete list of all 40 clubs, what changed from 2025, and what to watch for this year.
All 40 EWC 2026 Club Partner teams
Direct invites (top 8 from 2025 Club Championship):
Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, All Gamers, Gen.G, Weibo Gaming
These eight organizations earned automatic selection by finishing in the top 8 of the 2025 EWC Club Championship. Team Falcons have won the Club Championship in both 2024 and 2025. Team Liquid finished second last year. Team Vitality completed the podium in third.
Selected through application (32 clubs):
100 Thieves, 9z Globant, Alpha7 Esports, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, Fluxo W7M, Fnatic, FURIA, FUT Esports, G2 Esports, GAM Esports, Gentle Mates, GodLike Esports, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Leviatan, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, NRG, ONIC, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team Heretics, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Titan Esports Club, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION
Regional breakdown
The 40 clubs span every major esports region. Here is how the slots are distributed:
North America: 100 Thieves, Cloud9, NRG, Sentinels
Europe: Fnatic, G2 Esports, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, Team Heretics, Team Liquid, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Virtus.pro
MENA: Team Falcons, Twisted Minds, Wolves Esports
China: Edward Gaming, JD Gaming, Titan Esports Club, Weibo Gaming
Korea: Gen.G, T1
Southeast Asia: GAM Esports, ONIC, Team RRQ, Team Secret
India: GodLike Esports, S8UL
Latin America: 9z Globant, Alpha7 Esports, Fluxo W7M, FURIA, Leviatan
Japan: REJECT, ZETA DIVISION
Turkey: FUT Esports
Compared to 2025, EMEA lost three slots. Those went to Turkey (FUT Esports), India (GodLike, adding a second Indian club alongside S8UL), and Brazil (additional LATAM representation through Fluxo W7M and Alpha7). MENA also lost one slot, which shifted to Latin America.
New additions for 2026
Nine organizations are joining the Club Partner Program for the first time this year:
GodLike Esports (India) is one of the biggest names in Indian mobile esports. They compete across BGMI, COD Mobile, Free Fire MAX, Pokemon UNITE, and more. They are currently competing in the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals this week in Chennai.
FUT Esports (Turkey) adds Turkish representation to the program for the first time, reflecting the region’s growing competitive scene across Valorant and League of Legends.
Alpha7 Esports (Brazil) strengthens Latin American representation alongside existing partners FURIA, 9z, and Leviatan.
Fluxo W7M (Brazil) is the merged entity of two well-known Brazilian organizations, adding depth to the LATAM contingent.
Wolves Esports (MENA) joins as a third MENA representative alongside Team Falcons and Twisted Minds.
NIP.eStar represents Ninjas in Pyjamas’ combined entity with Chinese organization Estar Pro, giving the club dual European and Chinese presence.
HEROIC, Gentle Mates, and Leviatan round out the new additions, bringing European and Latin American depth to the roster.
Clubs removed from 2025
Nine organizations from the 2025 program did not return for 2026. According to Sheep Esports and Hotspawn, the dropped clubs include Karmine Corp, BIG, DRX, PSG Talon, and several others. The EMEA region was hit hardest, losing three slots that were redistributed to emerging markets.
The removals reflect the program’s annual re-application structure. Being selected one year does not guarantee selection the next. Clubs are evaluated on competitive results, social media presence, fan engagement capacity, and their ability to activate audiences around the EWC.
What the Club Partner Program provides
The program is not a tournament qualification. Being selected does not guarantee any club a spot in a specific EWC competition. Teams still need to qualify through each game’s individual pathway.
What clubs receive: up to $1 million in performance-based funding tied to social media reach and fan engagement activities. Access to the Superfan Program, which flew nearly 2,000 fans to Riyadh in 2025. A framework for content creation, watch parties, community events, and creator collaborations throughout the season.
Since launching in 2023, the Esports Foundation has invested over $100 million into clubs through the program and Club Championship combined. In 2025, participating clubs generated more than 330 million campaign views and engaged over 10 million fans across 370 initiatives. Over 130 watch parties were hosted worldwide.
What to watch for in 2026
India’s expanded presence. S8UL returns for a second year. GodLike debuts. Two Indian clubs in the program means double the content, double the fan activations, and significantly more Indian eyeballs on EWC 2026. India contributed 10.5 million viewers to EWC 2025. That number should grow.
Team Falcons’ three-peat bid. The Saudi organization has won the Club Championship in both 2024 and 2025. A third consecutive title would be historic. Team Liquid and Vitality will be the main challengers.
Fortnite’s return. Fortnite Reload joins the EWC lineup for the first time, adding one of the world’s most popular games to the competition schedule. This alone could shift viewership numbers significantly.
$75 million total prize pool. Up from $71.5 million in 2025. $30 million goes to the Club Championship (up from $27 million). The champion club still receives $7 million.
The EWC 2026 runs July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh. Twenty-five competitions across 24 games. Over 2,000 players from 200+ clubs representing 100+ countries. The Club Partner Program is the financial and promotional backbone that holds the ecosystem together.
Frequently asked questions
How many clubs are in the EWC 2026 Club Partner Program?
40 clubs total. Eight received direct invites based on 2025 Club Championship performance. The remaining 32 were selected through an open application process.
Which Indian teams are in the EWC 2026 Club Partner Program?
S8UL (second consecutive year) and GodLike Esports (first time selected).
How much funding does each club receive?
Up to $1 million per club, with payouts tied to social media engagement and fan activation performance throughout the season.
Does being a Club Partner guarantee a spot at EWC 2026 tournaments?
No. Club Partner selection provides funding and strategic support, but teams must still qualify for each game’s EWC tournament through standard competitive pathways.
When is the Esports World Cup 2026?
July 6 to August 23, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 25 competitions across 24 games. $75 million total prize pool.
Which clubs were removed from the 2025 program?
Nine clubs from the 2025 cohort did not return, including Karmine Corp, BIG, DRX, and PSG Talon. Slots were redistributed primarily to Turkey, India, and Latin America.
