Karmine Corp return to the Esports World Cup Partner Program

Just one day after securing their qualification for the 2026 Esports World Cup in League of Legends, have been reinstated into the competition’s Partner Program. The French organization, which had been part of the program in both 2024 and 2025, was initially absent from this year’s selection but now returns just weeks ahead of the competition’s July kickoff.

The opportunity arose after Heroic exited the program earlier this month. The Esports Foundation confirmed on May 15th that Heroic would step down, citing internal restructuring and their withdrawal from Dota 2. Their departure left an open slot among the 40 partnered organizations, quickly sparking speculation about a potential replacement.

Karmine Corp emerged as the natural candidate. Despite being one of Europe’s most prominent esports brands, the organization had originally not been integrated into the 2026 program when the original list was first reported. At the time, the Esports Foundation explained the decision as part of a broader strategy to expand into underrepresented regions rather than further reinforce the already competitive European ecosystem. Karmine Corp were not the only major organization excluded, as other notable teams can be mentioned, like LOUD and Movistar KOI.

Their return now reshapes the European presence within the initiative. Karmine Corp are currently set to compete in League of Legends, VALORANT (pending the Qualifier), and Rocket League. In the previous edition, the organization fielded teams across six titles and secured a standout victory in Rocket League, where they claimed the title and automatically qualified for the 2026 edition. Last year, they ultimately finished between 14th and 18th place in the overall Club Championship standings.

Beyond competitive considerations, the move comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding the event itself. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have fueled rumors that the Esports World Cup could be relocated from Saudi Arabia, its host for the past two years, to Paris, France. While no official announcement has been made, Karmine Corp’s inclusion would align well with a potential shift toward a French audience.

With this update, all three major French organizations—Karmine Corp, Team Vitality, and Gentle Mates—are now confirmed as Club Partners for the 2026 edition, strengthening France’s representation at one of the year’s biggest international esports events.