S8UL and GodLike Esports have both been selected for the Esports Foundation’s Club Partner Program for the Esports World Cup 2026. The announcement came today, March 31, 2026, confirming that two Indian organizations will represent the country at the biggest esports event in the world this summer.
This is S8UL’s second consecutive year in the program. For GodLike, it is the first time. Both join a global roster of 40 elite clubs that will receive up to $1 million (roughly Rs 9.4 Crore) each in funding, alongside strategic support and international exposure leading into and throughout EWC 2026 in Riyadh.
The Esports World Cup runs from July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a record $75 million (roughly Rs 710 Crore) prize pool across 25 competitions in 24 games. The Club Championship alone distributes $30 million to the top 24 performing organizations.
What the Club Partner Program actually is
The Club Partner Program is not a tournament qualification. Being selected does not guarantee either S8UL or GodLike a spot in any specific EWC competition. Their teams still need to qualify through each game’s individual pathway.
What it does provide is funding (up to $1 million per club), access to the Superfan Program (which flew nearly 2,000 fans to Riyadh in 2025), and a framework for content creation, fan campaigns, watch parties, and community events throughout the season. The program is designed to grow club audiences and engagement, not just reward competitive results.
Since launching in 2023, the Esports Foundation has invested over $100 million (roughly Rs 948 Crore) into clubs through the program and the Club Championship combined. In 2025, participating clubs delivered more than 330 million campaign views and engaged over 10 million fans across 370 initiatives. Over 130 watch parties were hosted globally.
The 2026 cohort includes 40 clubs spanning North America, Europe, MENA, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. Nine new organizations joined this year, while nine from last year’s program were removed.
S8UL returns after a strong 2025
S8UL made history in 2025 as the first Indian organization selected for the Club Partner Program. They competed at EWC 2025 in Apex Legends, Chess, and EA FC. Beyond competition, S8UL ran one of the largest fan engagement drives in Indian esports, hosting watch parties across 12 cities and converting their Mumbai gaming house into a dedicated EWC fan hub.
S8UL is a four-time Esports Awards winner for Esports Content Group of the Year. They currently compete across 10 titles, including BGMI, Valorant, Apex Legends, Chess, EA FC, Free Fire MAX, League of Legends, MOBA Legends 5v5, Pokemon GO, and Pokemon UNITE.
Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, S8UL’s co-founder and CEO, said the second selection validates what they are building. He framed 2026 as a year to go bigger across performance, content, and fan engagement while continuing to represent India at the highest level.
GodLike’s debut on the global stage
GodLike Esports is one of the most recognized names in Indian esports, but their presence has been almost entirely domestic until now. Founded by Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude, GodLike built its reputation through BGMI competitive dominance and a massive content creator ecosystem that generates over 150 million monthly views reaching 50 million users.
The organization competes across BGMI, COD Mobile, Free Fire MAX, Pokemon UNITE, EA FC, eFootball, and multiple MOBA titles. They have executed over 200 brand campaigns with partners including Hero Xtreme, OnePlus, Red Bull, Google Play, Samsung, and others.
Kronten called the selection a defining moment for GodLike and the Indian esports community. He said the program allows them to take their fan energy global, expand into new markets, and create fan experiences that go beyond competition.
GodLike’s selection is notable for another reason. Just last week, they signed an MoU with Maharashtra Cyber and Skyesports for grassroots esports and cyber safety in Maharashtra. They are also currently competing in the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals in Chennai this week (March 27-29). The EWC selection landing on top of both of those is a significant week for the organization.
Complete List of 2026 EWC Club Partner Teams
The 2026 EWC Club Partner Program includes:
- 100 Thieves
- 9z Globant
- All Gamers
- Alpha7 Esports
- Cloud9
- Edward Gaming
- Fluxo W7M
- Fnatic
- FURIA
- FUT Esports
- G2 Esports
- GAM Esports
- Gen.G
- Gentle Mates
- GodLike
- HEROIC
- JD Gaming
- Leviatan
- MOUZ
- NAVI
- NIP.eStar
- NRG
- ONIC
- REJECT
- S8UL
- Sentinels
- T1
- Team Falcons
- Team Heretics
- Team Liquid
- Team RRQ
- Team Secret
- Team Spirit
- Team Vitality
- Titan Esports Club
- Twisted Minds
- Virtus.pro
- Weibo Gaming
- Wolves Esports
- ZETA DIVISION
The combined audience of these 40 clubs exceeds 300 million fans worldwide. India now has two representatives in this group, up from one in 2025. Notably absent is Revenant XSpark, which had also applied for the program earlier this year but was not selected.
What this means for Indian esports
Having two Indian clubs in the EWC Club Partner Program is significant for a few reasons.
First, the funding. Up to $1 million per organization is serious capital in the Indian esports market. S8UL and GodLike can use this to build international rosters, produce content targeting global audiences, and run fan activations at a scale that domestic sponsorships alone cannot support.
Second, the visibility. The EWC 2025 attracted 500 million viewers globally, including 10.5 million from India. Having two Indian clubs actively promoting and competing at EWC 2026 increases the chances that Indian audience numbers grow substantially this year.
Third, the precedent. S8UL’s 2025 selection opened the door. GodLike walking through it in 2026 normalizes Indian participation in the program. If both perform well this year, three or four Indian organizations in 2027 becomes realistic.
The EWC 2026 runs July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh. The full competition schedule includes 25 events across titles like League of Legends, Valorant, CS2, Dota 2, Fortnite Reload, Trackmania, PUBG Mobile, and more. S8UL and GodLike still need to qualify for individual competitions through standard pathways, but the Club Partner Program ensures they have the resources and platform to compete globally regardless of specific tournament results.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EWC Club Partner Program?
A $20 million annual initiative by the Esports Foundation that provides up to $1 million in funding per club, plus strategic support and fan engagement opportunities, to 40 elite esports organizations worldwide.
Which Indian teams are in the EWC 2026 Club Partner Program?
S8UL (second consecutive year) and GodLike Esports (first time). Revenant XSpark applied but was not selected.
Does being a Club Partner guarantee a spot at EWC 2026?
No. Club Partner selection provides funding and support, but teams must still qualify for each game’s EWC competition through standard qualification pathways.
When is the Esports World Cup 2026?
July 6 to August 23, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event features 25 competitions across 24 games with a $75 million total prize pool.
How much funding do S8UL and GodLike receive?
Up to $1 million each (roughly Rs 9.4 Crore), depending on their social media engagement and promotional activities throughout the season.
