FaZe Clan is not in the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Partner Program. Neither is Karmine Corp. Neither is LOUD.
The Esports Foundation confirmed all 40 clubs for the 2026 program on March 31, and the list of organizations that did not make the cut is arguably more interesting than the list that did. Nine clubs from the 2025 program were dropped, replaced by nine new additions. The names missing tell a story about what the EWC values and where the Foundation is shifting its investment.
Every club dropped from the 2025 program
Nine organizations that were part of the 2025 Club Partner Program are not returning for 2026:
- FaZe Clan (North America)
- Karmine Corp (Europe/France)
- LOUD (Brazil)
- Gaimin Gladiators (Europe)
- Movistar KOI (Europe/Spain)
- Bilibili Gaming (China)
- EVOS (Southeast Asia)
- POWR (Europe)
- Team BDS (Europe)
The pattern is clear. Europe took the biggest hit, losing five organizations (Karmine Corp, Gaimin Gladiators, Movistar KOI, POWR, Team BDS). Those slots were redistributed to emerging markets, specifically Turkey, India, and Latin America.
Why FaZe Clan’s exclusion stands out
FaZe is one of the most recognizable brands in esports. Their social media reach is massive. Their content operation is arguably better than their competitive results, which is exactly the kind of profile you would expect the Club Partner Program to reward.
But the program evaluates clubs on multi-title competitive presence, not just brand size. FaZe’s competitive roster in 2025 was concentrated heavily in Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six Siege (they won the Six Invitational 2026 in February). The EWC wants organizations that will field teams across multiple tournaments during the seven-week event in Riyadh. If FaZe was not planning to compete across enough titles, the program’s criteria may have worked against them.
It is also worth noting that FaZe can still compete at EWC 2026. Being excluded from the Club Partner Program does not ban an organization from qualifying for individual tournaments. FaZe’s CS2 and R6 teams can still earn their way into Riyadh through standard qualification. What they lose is the funding (up to $1 million), the Superfan Program access, and the promotional framework.
Why Karmine Corp’s removal matters
Karmine Corp’s absence is surprising for different reasons. The French organization won the Rocket League event at EWC 2025, beating Geekay Esports in the final. They are qualified to defend that title this year. They also field competitive rosters in League of Legends (through the French LFL), Valorant, and Trackmania.
Karmine Corp was one of the most visible European partners in 2025, running an art program as part of their Club Partner initiatives. Losing them while their Rocket League team literally auto-qualifies for EWC 2026 creates an awkward situation where a defending champion is competing at the event but is not part of the partnership ecosystem around it.
The French fanbase, known as the “Blue Wall,” is one of the loudest in European esports. Their absence from the partner program removes a significant European engagement driver.
LOUD’s exclusion and the Latin American shift
LOUD is one of the biggest esports brands in Brazil. Their Valorant roster won Champions 2022. Their content operation reaches millions. Dropping them from the program while adding Alpha7 Esports and Fluxo W7M (both Brazilian) suggests the Esports Foundation wants more Latin American organizations, just not necessarily the same ones.
The 2026 program has five LATAM clubs (9z Globant, Alpha7 Esports, Fluxo W7M, FURIA, Leviatan), up from what was a smaller LATAM presence in 2025. LOUD’s removal and their replacement with two different Brazilian orgs implies the Foundation is prioritizing geographic diversity within the region rather than doubling down on a single dominant brand.
Who replaced them
Nine new organizations joined the 2026 Club Partner Program:
GodLike Esports (India) debuts alongside returning partner S8UL, giving India two slots for the first time.
FUT Esports (Turkey) adds Turkish representation to the program for the first time.
NRG (North America) returns after being part of the 2024 program but missing 2025.
Alpha7 Esports and Fluxo W7M (both Brazil) expand LATAM coverage.
GAM Esports (Vietnam) strengthens Southeast Asian presence.
Team Heretics (Europe) and Titan Esports Club (China) add depth.
9z Globant (Argentina) brings additional South American representation.
The bigger picture
The Club Partner Program is not just about competitive results. It is about audience reach, content production, and the ability to promote EWC across regions. The Foundation distributes $20 million annually across the 40 clubs, with each receiving up to $1 million based on engagement metrics.
The 2025 program delivered 330 million campaign views and engaged over 10 million fans through 370 initiatives. The Foundation wants those numbers to grow in 2026, and the way to grow them is to expand into markets where esports audiences are still scaling rapidly. India, Turkey, and Latin America fit that profile. Established European organizations that have plateaued in audience growth do not.
That explains the pattern. Europe lost five slots. India gained one. Turkey gained one. LATAM gained two. The remaining slot went to additional Chinese and Southeast Asian presence. The Foundation is betting on growth markets over legacy brands.
Whether that bet pays off depends on whether organizations like GodLike, FUT Esports, and Alpha7 can match the engagement output that Karmine Corp, FaZe, and LOUD were delivering. The raw audience numbers from India and Brazil suggest they can. The question is execution.
The EWC 2026 runs July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions. The dropped organizations can still qualify for and compete in individual tournaments. They just will not have the financial backing, promotional support, and Superfan infrastructure that the 40 partner clubs receive.
Frequently asked questions
Is FaZe Clan banned from EWC 2026?
No. FaZe is not part of the Club Partner Program, but their teams can still qualify for individual EWC tournaments through standard competitive pathways. They lose the funding and promotional support, not the ability to compete.
Why was Karmine Corp dropped from the EWC Club Partner Program?
The Esports Foundation has not disclosed specific reasons. The program is renewed annually through re-application, and clubs are evaluated on multi-title competitive presence, social media reach, and fan engagement capacity. Karmine Corp’s Rocket League team still auto-qualifies for EWC 2026 as defending champions.
Which clubs replaced the dropped organizations?
GodLike Esports (India), FUT Esports (Turkey), NRG (North America), Alpha7 Esports (Brazil), Fluxo W7M (Brazil), GAM Esports (Vietnam), Team Heretics (Europe), Titan Esports Club (China), and 9z Globant (Argentina).
How many European clubs were removed?
Five: Karmine Corp, Gaimin Gladiators, Movistar KOI, POWR, and Team BDS. Europe went from the most represented region to losing three net slots, which were redistributed to Turkey, India, and Latin America.
Can dropped clubs reapply for EWC 2027?
Yes. The program requires annual re-application. Being dropped in 2026 does not prevent any organization from applying again for the 2027 cycle.
