Sources: The list of the 40 EWC 2026 partner clubs

As in previous years, the Esports Foundation, which oversees the Esports World Cup, has opened applications for the Club Partner Program, which aims to reward organizations that contribute the most to promoting the competition on social media. Here are, according to information from sources close to Sheep Esports, the 40 clubs that will be part of this program in 2026 and will therefore receive at least six-figure funding. A six-figure amount, depending on the club’s social media influence and its ability to promote the competition and, by extension, Saudi Arabia to the public.

This year, the competition will take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as in previous years. Scheduled from July 6 to August 23, the EWC will host nearly 25 disciplines across 24 games, ranging from well-known titles such as League of Legends, VALORANT, and Counter-Strike, to Trackmania and Fortnite, the new additions for the 2026 edition.

Thus, these 40 names are split into two categories: those selected through a tender process and those who received a direct invitation. For the latter category, these are simply the eight clubs that finished in the top eight of the Club Championship, the equivalent of an Olympic-style medal ranking, with an overall winner, namely the organization that achieved the best results across its various teams. Based on the 2025 edition results, Team Falcons, winners of the last two EWC editions, return alongside Team Liquid, which finished second, and Team Vitality, which completes the podium in third place.

As in 2025, 40 organizations are part of this program, but unlike the previous edition, the regional distribution has been adjusted. Europe, which previously held twelve spots, has lost three, mainly to Turkey, which gains one direct slot, India, which gains a second, and Brazil, which gains a third. The MENA region is the only other region to lose a spot, to the benefit of LATAM, which secures an additional slot. All of these calculations include already invited clubs.

To apply for the 2026 Club Partner Program, a club had to be a registered private entity, multi-game, with several active rosters, as well as a proven track record in domestic and international competitions, and above all, a substantial social media following. Applications were submitted via an online form until December 18, with a selection phase expected to last until January 30. This list, revealed here by Sheep Esports and not yet announced publicly, suggests the process was longer and more complex than initially expected.

The Esports World Cup serves as a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, leveraging a $38 billion investment via the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to establish the Kingdom as a global gaming hub and diversify its economy. This deployment of soft power aims to project an image of a modern, tech-forward nation to an international audience. However, organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch characterize these initiatives as "sportswashing," arguing they are designed to obscure a restrictive domestic record on human rights. Documented concerns include severe crackdowns on freedom of expression, the continued criminalization of LGBTQ+ individuals, and persistent labor rights violations for migrant workers.