Esports World Cup 2025 Games: Full Line-Up, Formats & Standouts

Updated On: August 23, 2025 by     Aaron Connolly  

Official Game Line-Up

Esports World Cup 2025 brings together 25 tournaments from the most popular competitive gaming titles out there. Each event throws down prize pools that top £800,000, spanning everything from classic PC esports to mobile and fighting games.

List of Featured Titles

Here’s the full roster for EWC 2025. Heavy-hitters like Counter-Strike 2, DOTA 2, and League of Legends headline the PC side.

Mobile gaming isn’t left behind—PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang all make the list. These games really show how mobile esports keeps exploding, especially in Asia.

Fighting game fans can look forward to Street Fighter 6, Tekken, and the debut of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. First-person shooters take over with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Valorant, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and Overwatch 2.

The line-up also brings in Rocket League, EA Sports FC 25, PUBG Battlegrounds, StarCraft II, TeamFight Tactics, CrossFire, Rennsport, and even Chess—yeah, really.

Debut and Returning Games

A handful of games are jumping in for the first time in 2025. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is the newest fighting game on the block.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 steps in for older CoD versions, shaking up the usual gameplay. EA Sports FC 25 carries the football sim tradition forward with EA’s new branding.

Most core titles from 2024 are back, but with some fresh twists in format. Counter-Strike 2 wraps up the event again, this time with a beefed-up $1.25 million prize pool.

DOTA 2 and League of Legends keep their spots as the big MOBA draws. StarCraft II sticks around too, keeping that old-school esports vibe alive.

Genre Breakdown

FPS games lead the charge with seven titles, including Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and several Call of Duty entries. It’s hard to argue with the genre’s huge viewership and depth.

MOBA titles stand tall—DOTA 2, League of Legends, and mobile games like Honor of Kings and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang all make a splash. These games always seem to pull in the biggest crowds.

Fighting games aren’t forgotten, with Street Fighter 6, Tekken, and Fatal Fury all in the mix. Their brackets tend to deliver some of the most dramatic moments.

Battle royale gets solid representation—PUBG Mobile, PUBG Battlegrounds, Free Fire, and Apex Legends are all here. Sports simulation shows up with EA Sports FC 25 and Rocket League. Strategy fans get their fill with StarCraft II and Chess.

Game Formats and Tournament Structures

EWC 2025 mixes up tournament formats across its 25 games. Most tournaments kick off with group stages and then move into knockout brackets.

Each event runs on its own schedule and qualification system, but they all feed into the Club Championship points race.

Group and Knockout Phases

Most tournaments start with group play to whittle down the field. VALORANT brings in 16 teams split into groups, and Dota 2 uses something similar, but with double-elimination brackets.

League of Legends invites 12 teams through regional qualifiers. Teams battle it out in round-robin groups, then the best move on to single-elimination playoffs.

Counter-Strike sticks to its tried-and-true format: 16 teams, groups for seeding, then elimination matches all the way to the top.

PUBG Mobile tournaments take a different route—survival-based scoring over multiple matches. Teams rack up points for placement and eliminations, not just wins.

Grand Finals and Qualification

Each title brings its own path to the World Cup. Mobile Legends splits into two tournaments: the Mid Season Cup (23 teams) and a Women’s Invitational (16 squads).

Apex Legends serves as the ALGS Midseason Playoffs, where 40 teams dive into battle royale formats with points deciding who advances.

Call of Duty features 16 pro teams in a classic bracket. They fight through best-of-series matches, ending in a grand final.

Solo games like StarCraft II rely on player rankings and regional qualifiers. Eighteen players face off in individual matches, with elimination rounds deciding who survives.

Unique Event Formats

A few games shake things up. Honor of Kings runs the largest MOBA tournament outside of League of Legends, drawing in 18 international teams.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves pits 16 players against each other in a fighting game bracket. Every match is best-of-three, and character picks really matter.

Free Fire delivers mobile battle royale action with 18 teams. Survival and elimination-based scoring keep things unpredictable.

Rennsport adds something new—a racing sim with 9 pro teams. They compete on lap times and race positions, not head-to-head elimination.

Prize Pool and Awards

EWC 2025 boasts a massive $70 million prize pool across all tournaments. Counter-Strike leads with $1.25 million for its event, while DOTA 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and VALORANT also land hefty sums based on their competitive scenes.

Total Prize Distribution

The $70 million pool is the biggest in esports yet. Counter-Strike’s prize alone jumps from $1 million last year up to $1.25 million.

Prize money spreads out over more than 25 tournaments during the seven-week festival. Everything happens between 8 July and 24 August 2025 in Riyadh.

Typical top prize breakdown:

• 1st place: 40-50% of the game’s total pool
• 2nd place: 20-25%
• 3rd place: 10-15%
• The rest: Split among other teams who make the cut

Winners also score Club Championship points along with their cash. These points reward partner orgs that rack up wins across multiple tournaments.

Top Games by Prize Money

Counter-Strike takes the biggest chunk at $1.25 million, with $500,000 and 1,000 Club Championship points going to the winner.

DOTA 2 and VALORANT aren’t far behind, but exact figures change depending on the format. Mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings get strong support, thanks to their huge audiences.

For the major titles:

• 1st place: $500,000 + 1,000 CC points
• 2nd place: $230,000 + 750 CC points
• 3rd place: $130,000 + 500 CC points

The rest of the prize money gets split among teams finishing from 4th to 16th.

Awards per Genre

Shooter games like Counter-Strike and VALORANT walk away with the highest prizes. Their established scenes and big viewership numbers make the investment worth it.

MOBA titles such as DOTA 2 pull in big prize pools too. Team play and deep strategies keep fans hooked.

Mobile games—Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, and PUBG Mobile—get a lot of love. Their accessibility and reach make them crowd favorites during the event.

Battle royale and fighting games get smaller, but still competitive, prize pots. Each genre’s share really depends on its current audience and competitive scene.

Key Dates and Tournament Schedule

Esports World Cup 2025 runs from 7 July to 24 August in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Over 2,000 players will battle it out across 25 tournaments, with most games lasting between three and six days.

Kick-Off and Closing Dates

Festival Launch: 7 July 2025
Competitions Begin: 8 July 2025
Final Tournament Ends: 24 August 2025

EWC 2025 opens with a festival on 7 July—expect ceremonies and fan events before the real action starts.

The first matches hit on 8 July, featuring Valorant, Rennsport, and Dota 2 wildcard rounds. These games set the tone for seven weeks straight of competition.

Everything wraps up on 24 August with the last matches for Counter-Strike 2, Street Fighter 6, and Crossfire. Riyadh hosts every tournament in several dedicated arenas.

Weekly Game Highlights

Week	Key Games	Dates
Week 1	Valorant, Apex Legends, Fatal Fury	8-13 July
Week 2	League of Legends, Dota 2, Free Fire	15-20 July
Week 3	Call of Duty: Black Ops 5, PUBG Mobile	23-27 July
Week 4	Clash of Clans, Mobile Legends	29 July-3 Aug
Week 5	FC 25, Rainbow Six Siege	6-11 August
Week 6	Rocket League, Tekken 8	11-17 August
Week 7	Counter-Strike 2, Street Fighter 6	19-24 August

Week 2 is all about the MOBA battles—League of Legends and Dota 2 headline the week. Week 3 leans into mobile gaming, with PUBG Mobile World Championship front and center.

The last two weeks bring the biggest tournaments, including Counter-Strike 2 and its whopping $1.25 million prize pool.

Important Matches to Watch

Opening Weekend (8-13 July): Valorant’s whole tournament runs through the first week, raising the bar for everything that comes after.

Mid-Tournament Highlights (15-20 July): League of Legends and Dota 2 take over the spotlight. These events usually pull in the highest viewership at major esports events.

Mobile Gaming Peak (23-27 July): PUBG Mobile World Championship is the big one for mobile esports fans.

Championship Weekend (19-24 August): Counter-Strike 2 closes out EWC 2025. With over $1 million up for grabs, these matches promise to be wild.

Quick tip: Circle 15-20 July on your calendar—this week packs the most high-profile tournaments and will probably be the busiest for viewers.

MOBA Titles at EWC 2025

Three major MOBA games headline the tournament line-up, with prize pools totaling over £5 million. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang features both male and female competitions, and Honor of Kings and League of Legends bring top international teams to Riyadh.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) made a big splash at EWC 2025, running both male and female tournaments. Organizers put up a massive £3 million total prize pool for the game.

Male Competition Format:

• Classic 5v5 gameplay
• International teams fought for spots
• Multiple regions got represented

Female Competition Highlights:

• A dedicated women’s invitational tournament
• More attention on female esports participation
• Women played under the same format as the men

Fans in Southeast Asia love MLBB, and honestly, that’s where the game feels most alive. Teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines usually dominate these events.

ONIC, which is one of the game’s most respected orgs, probably sent strong teams for both divisions. Having two separate tournaments really shows MLBB’s push for inclusivity.

Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings matched MLBB’s £3 million prize pool at EWC 2025. Tencent’s mobile MOBA brought some wild 5v5 knockout action to the tournament.

Here’s how the format worked:

• Tournament Style: Knockout elimination
• Team Composition: 5v5 battles
• Platform: Only on mobile

Mostly Asian teams showed up, which isn’t surprising given the game’s popularity there. Chinese orgs often take the top spots, thanks to their player development and infrastructure.

Both Honor of Kings and MLBB highlight just how much mobile gaming has taken over esports. These games let more people jump in compared to traditional PC MOBAs.

League of Legends

League of Legends kicked off on July 16 at EWC 2025, bringing in top international teams and big-name orgs. Organizers bumped up the prize pool by £1 million this year.

Competition Structure:

• Teams from all over the world
• Multiple ways to qualify
• Classic 5v5 Summoner’s Rift matches

League of Legends has the most established MOBA scene at EWC 2025. Teams arrived with loyal fans and plenty of experience from their home leagues.

The bigger prize pool definitely attracted the best talent. Pro teams had a good reason to send their strongest rosters this time.

First-Person Shooters and Battle Royale

First-person shooters and battle royale games pretty much steal the show at Esports World Cup 2025. Titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Warzone, PUBG, and Free Fire bring together the sharpest shooters and tacticians from around the globe.

Call of Duty Series

The Call of Duty franchise brings two heavy hitters to Riyadh this summer. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 offers that classic, fast-paced multiplayer we all expect.

Warzone throws in the chaos of battle royale, where teams drop into huge maps and only one squad makes it out on top.

Different players gravitate toward each title. Black Ops 6 rewards tight teamwork and map knowledge. Warzone is more about staying alive, managing resources, and making clutch decisions late in the game.

The Call of Duty crowd expects big prize pools at EWC. Past events have handed out millions, so teams have been grinding for months to get ready.

PUBG Titles

PUBG Battlegrounds and PUBG Mobile both claim spots at the World Cup. These games basically invented the modern battle royale genre.

PUBG Battlegrounds on PC feels gritty and realistic. Players have to learn recoil, bullet drop, and even how to drive. Teams spend tons of time practicing rotations and holding compounds.

PUBG Mobile lets people compete on their phones. It’s especially huge in Asia and Latin America. The controls are a whole different beast compared to PC.

Both versions throw 100 players onto sprawling maps. Teams have to decide when to push and when to hide. The final circles always get the adrenaline pumping—one mistake, and it’s over.

Free Fire

Free Fire has exploded as the fastest-growing battle royale in a bunch of markets. This mobile game runs quick matches, so there’s barely any downtime.

Games last about 10 minutes, way shorter than PUBG’s 30-40 minute marathons. With only 50 players and smaller maps, there’s action everywhere. No one can just camp and wait for the endgame.

Free Fire’s unique characters come with their own special abilities. Some heal faster, others drive better—teams have to plan who picks what.

The game’s a huge hit in Brazil, India, and Southeast Asia, pulling in massive audiences. It’s wild to think that many top players started out just playing on their phones for fun.

Real-Time Strategy and Tactical Titles

The Esports World Cup 2025 brings in strategy games that push players to think several steps ahead. StarCraft II delivers legendary real-time strategy battles, and Chess adds that timeless, cerebral edge to the lineup.

StarCraft II

StarCraft II comes back to the World Cup, proving it still has a place in top-tier esports. Players juggle resources, build armies, and outsmart each other as Terran, Protoss, or Zerg.

The game’s depth creates some of the most exciting moments in esports. You need fast hands and a sharp mind to win.

Top players to watch:

• Serral from Finland, often called the best non-Korean
• Cure from South Korea, famous for his aggressive Terran play

Matches usually last 15-30 minutes. Both decision-making and mechanical skill matter, which makes it fun to watch if you’re into strategy.

If you’re new, try to learn what makes each race different. Terran is flexible, Protoss packs a punch with tech, and Zerg wins by swarming.

Teamfight Tactics

Auto-battlers like Teamfight Tactics have blown up lately. Players draft champions, set them up on the board, and then let the battles play out automatically.

TFT is all about knowing which champions work together and when to spend your gold. The best players change their plans based on what they find in the shop and what their opponents build.

Core gameplay:

• Manage your gold for the right balance between economy and upgrades
• Position your team to counter others
• Stay flexible and adapt every round

Each match throws you against different players, and the last one standing wins. It’s a battle of wits where every round counts.

TFT appeals to people who like thinking ahead more than mashing buttons. Quick choices under pressure often make the difference.

Chess

Chess joins the 2025 World Cup, showing that classic games can thrive in the esports world. It’s kind of refreshing to see something so old-school get this kind of spotlight.

Online chess has taken off, especially after the pandemic. Sites like Chess.com have millions playing blitz, bullet, and rapid games.

Magnus Carlsen—yeah, that guy—helped make chess streaming a thing. His mix of skill and charisma keeps people watching.

Tournaments at the World Cup will probably use rapid or blitz formats. Faster games mean more drama, which is perfect for streaming.

Chess is pure strategy—no luck, no teammates, just you and your opponent. It’s as simple and as tough as that.

Fighting Games Showcase

The fighting game lineup brings out some legends for three big tournaments. These games are all about one-on-one battles, and honestly, that’s where some of the best esports moments happen.

Tekken 8

Tekken 8 is one of the most hyped tournaments at EWC 2025. The game’s popularity has only grown, pulling in both veterans and newcomers.

Prize pools for Tekken still stack up well in the fighting game community. Top players from Japan, South Korea, and the West all show up to battle for big rewards.

The tournament usually uses a double-elimination bracket. That means if you lose early, you don’t go home right away—plenty of room for epic comebacks.

Fans will see a mix of established stars and up-and-comers. Tekken’s fast-paced, aggressive style makes every match a thrill.

Regional diversity is a given. Asian players often lead the pack, but Western players have started closing the gap.

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 wraps up the fighting game events with five days of fierce matches. The game has breathed new life into the scene since it dropped.

Top competitors include veterans who’ve been at the top for years. Players like GO1 are always in the mix, showing off skills across different games.

The tournament runs over several days, packed with matches. Each day brings new character clashes and playstyles.

Character variety is a big draw in Street Fighter 6. You’ll see everything from in-your-face rushdown to patient zoning.

Prize money spreads out to more than just the winner, which keeps things competitive and encourages more players to jump in.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves opens the fighting game series at EWC. The franchise is making a comeback after a long break from big tournaments.

Legacy players from older Fatal Fury games might return to see if they still have what it takes. The game blends classic moves with modern fighting mechanics.

Expect a strong showing from Japanese arcade players, where Fatal Fury still has a loyal fanbase. These players bring some wild strategies from their local scenes.

The tournament will help shape the game’s competitive meta for the global stage. Early events like this usually reveal which characters and tactics stand out.

Spectators get treated to flashy visuals and big combos. Even if you’re new, it’s hard not to get caught up in the action.

Sim Racing and Sports Titles

The Esports World Cup 2025 brings together three huge sporting competitions, blending old-school athletics with modern gaming. Rennsport delivers high-stakes sim racing with a $500,000 prize pool, while EA Sports FC 25 and Rocket League bring football to the digital pitch in their own ways.

Rennsport

Rennsport stands at the top of sim racing at the World Cup. The event runs from July 8-11, with nine elite teams chasing a $500,000 prize.

Tournament Format The competition uses a multi-stage elimination system. Teams that finished 4th-9th in spring standings start in the Last Chance Stage, while the top three teams go straight to the Group Stage.

The format breaks down like this:

• Last Chance Stage: Six teams split into two groups
• Group Stage: Six teams play round-robin
• Bracket Stage: Upper and lower bracket elimination
• Finals: Up to eight races, with “Finalist Mode” turned on

Finalist Mode brings some real drama. Once a team hits 250 points, they can win instantly by finishing first in any race after that.

Global Representation The tournament brings together 36 drivers from 19 countries. Germany, Poland, and the UK each send five drivers (about 14% each). Australia has three, and places like Brazil, Finland, and Indonesia each have one.

Prize Distribution That $500,000 prize pool pays out across all finishing spots, making it one of the richest events in sim racing.

Rocket League

Rocket League mashes up football and rocket-powered cars, turning the pitch into one of esports’ most approachable yet demanding battlegrounds. Its wild, physics-driven play somehow draws in both sports diehards and gaming fans.

Competitive Appeal

Pro Rocket League pushes players to their limits—think razor-sharp mechanics, tight teamwork, and those blink-and-you-miss-it choices. Teams have to nail aerial tricks, manage boost like pros, and stay smart with positioning, no matter the mode.

Tournament Structure

Most Rocket League tournaments stick to 3v3 squads and best-of-series showdowns. The Esports World Cup format pulls in top teams from Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania for a global clash.

Skill Requirements

Players pour thousands of hours into mastering their cars, reading the ball, and syncing rotations with teammates. Pro teams grind daily, with coaches and analysts breaking down every second of gameplay.

Prize Pool Significance

Big Rocket League tournaments throw down serious cash. The Esports World Cup stands out as one of the year’s top prizes for players and orgs alike.

EA Sports FC 25

EA Sports FC 25 (yep, the old FIFA) keeps classic football simulation alive in esports. This tournament pulls in both real footballers and hardcore gaming specialists.

Game Format

Most EA Sports FC battles are 1v1, though some events spice things up with team play. Competitors use today’s football squads, complete with fresh ratings and stats.

Professional Crossover

You’ll spot plenty of pro footballers in these tournaments, sometimes facing off against esports veterans. This crossover attracts a broader crowd than your usual gaming event.

Competitive Meta

Winning means knowing football tactics inside out, plus a deep understanding of player stats and game mechanics. The best study formations, chemistry, and those game-changing skill moves.

Tournament Importance

For the EA Sports FC crowd, the Esports World Cup is a massive deal—big money, big bragging rights, and a spot in the football gaming hall of fame.

Notable Teams and Players

The world’s top esports orgs and their star players will battle it out across 25 tournaments at EWC 2025. We’ll see legends like Team Spirit and G2 Esports, plus rising giants like Team Falcons. It’s shaping up to be a wild, competitive year.

Top Organisations Competing

Team Falcons tops the Club Championship with 4,700 points. They’ve gone all-in across several games, building one of the strongest multi-game rosters for 2025.

Team Liquid sits close behind at 4,200 points. Their steady results in DOTA 2, Counter-Strike, and more make them real threats for the £7 million Club Championship.

Team Vitality rounds out the top three with 3,750 points. The French org has stacked their lineups and looks hungry to climb higher.

Team Spirit has racked up tournament wins in 2024. Their DOTA 2 squad is still one of the scariest on the planet, and their other teams just keep getting better.

G2 Esports brings tons of experience to the table. Sure, they lost last year’s Counter-Strike final to NAVI, but don’t count them out—they’re still favorites in plenty of games.

Other teams like Virtus.pro, Gen.G, and Team Secret bring deep rosters and could easily shake up the standings.

Star Players to Follow

Counter-Strike will spotlight some of the planet’s best. s1mple from NAVI keeps dominating, even if his team’s had a rough patch. ZywOo from Team Vitality is still the French ace to watch.

Team Spirit’s DOTA 2 crew boasts several International champs. Their teamwork and clutch plays set the bar for everyone else.

On the mobile side, ONIC Esports brings serious talent from Southeast Asia. Their players have crushed regional events and now face the world.

EVOS Esports has strong squads in multiple mobile games. Their aggressive style and young roster could catch some teams off guard.

Detonation FocusMe is putting Japan on the esports map. Their oddball tactics often surprise international rivals.

Keep an eye on Team Heretics too. The Spanish org’s been quietly building solid rosters that might just break through this year.

Historic Performances

NAVI took last year’s Counter-Strike crown, beating G2 in a nail-biter final. They’re back with nearly the same squad, looking to repeat.

Team Spirit’s DOTA 2 dominance stretches back years. Their championship run at The International still gets talked about as a masterclass in tactics.

G2 Esports made several finals in 2024 but couldn’t quite seal the deal. Maybe this is finally their year to turn strong showings into trophies.

Team Liquid knows how to handle big moments. Their experience under pressure is a real asset when things get tense.

Team Falcons’ quick climb up the Club Championship proves their strategy’s working. They’ve become contenders across the board in record time.

Teams like AG.AL and LOS have flashed brilliance in their regions. EWC 2025 gives them a shot to prove themselves on the world stage.

Host City and Venue

Riyadh steps up as the official host for the 2025 Esports World Cup, with the brand-new SEF Arena built just for this kind of action. The venue covers 34,000 square metres and splits into five tournament halls.

Riyadh as the Esports Capital

The Esports World Cup Foundation put Riyadh on the map as the global hotspot for esports. The city hosts the tournament from 7 July to 24 August 2025.

Over 2,000 pros from more than 100 countries head to Riyadh for the showdown. Boulevard City turns into ground zero for the world’s biggest esports event.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bankrolls the tournament through the Esports World Cup Foundation, making that record £70 million prize pool possible.

Saudi Arabia is betting big on esports infrastructure. Riyadh’s aiming to become the permanent home for major global tournaments.

Venue Facilities and Fan Experience

The SEF Arena stretches across 34,000 square metres in Boulevard City. Five separate halls run tournaments at the same time, each seating over 1,000 fans.

Every hall comes with top-notch streaming and broadcast setups. Players battle it out on identical gaming rigs, so everyone’s on a level playing field.

Fans can hit up merch stands, food courts, and chill zones between matches. VIPs get premium seats and beefed-up audio.

Quick tip: If you grab tickets for different halls, you can bounce between tournaments all day.

The arena’s design caters to both the live crowd and online viewers. Multiple camera angles and pro lighting make sure streams look sharp for millions around the world.

Legacy and Future of the Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup 2025 feels like a turning point for competitive gaming. Saudi Arabia’s £50 million investment is changing how tournaments run, how players train, and how fans connect with esports everywhere.

Innovations of EWC 2025

The Esports World Cup Foundation really shook up the idea of multi-game tournaments. Their club championship system keeps storylines running all year, not just during one-off events.

That £70 million prize pool? It’s the biggest single-event payout in esports history. This kind of funding shows what’s possible when you’ve got serious investment behind you.

Some standout innovations:

• Club partnerships that span 25 titles
• A unified streaming platform for global fans
• New standards for player welfare and support
• Fan zones that blend physical and digital experiences

The eight-week format means we actually get to see rivalries develop across games—not just in a single weekend.

Regional qualifiers open doors for teams from smaller markets. This more inclusive approach is already pushing other tournaments to rethink their own systems.

Impact on Global Esports Scene

Bigger prize pools are shaking up the whole esports economy. Teams plan differently now, knowing there’s serious money on the line.

Player contracts reflect this shift, too. Salaries rise as orgs fight for talent ready to perform on EWC’s massive stage.

We’re seeing changes like:

• Sponsors targeting Middle Eastern fans
• Production values going up everywhere
• Venues stepping up to match Riyadh’s scale
• Broadcasting rights getting more valuable worldwide

Traditional organisers are tweaking their formats. ESL, BLAST, and PGL are all borrowing ideas from EWC’s multi-game approach.

The club system gives orgs new ways to make money. They’re building merch and content strategies around EWC, not just individual games.

Outlook for 2026 and Beyond

Gaming expert James Connolly points out that real growth needs both big investment and grassroots community support.

The Esports World Cup Foundation is eyeing expansion into mobile gaming markets. That’s where most competitive play actually happens now, if we’re being honest.

What’s on the horizon:

• Regional EWC qualifiers in major gaming hubs
• University tie-ins for education and talent pipelines
• Better tech for remote competition
• Sustainability efforts to shrink the tournament’s footprint

Other countries, like the UK, Germany, and South Korea, are exploring their own mega-tournaments. We’ll see if anyone can match EWC’s scale.

Long-term, it’s all about player development. The foundation’s academy projects might just create the next wave of esports stars.

Expect the 2026 edition to feature 30+ games and more amateur divisions. That kind of growth echoes how classic sports tournaments started small and blew up worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Esports World Cup 2025 runs from 8 July to 24 August in Riyadh, offering a £56 million prize pool across 25 games. League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 headline the list. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves makes its debut, while mobile hits like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire each get £2.4 million.

What games are featured in the 2025 Esports World Cup?

You’ll find 25 games covering just about every genre at the 2025 Esports World Cup. Classics like League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Valorant are all in.

Fighting games get plenty of love—think Street Fighter 6, Tekken, and the new Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Mobile gaming is huge now, so PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Honor of Kings all have big spots.

Apex Legends and PUBG: Battlegrounds cover the battle royale crowd. Sports fans get EA Sports FC 25 and Rocket League.

Strategy fans can watch StarCraft II and Teamfight Tactics. Even Chess shows up, making this one of the most diverse esports competitions around.

How much is the prize pool for the 2025 Esports World Cup, and how is it distributed?

The total prize pool hits £56 million across all 25 tournaments. Every game gets at least £800,000.

Mobile games take the top prizes. Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, and PUBG Mobile each pick up £2.4 million.

League of Legends saw its prize boosted by £800,000 from last year. Counter-Strike 2 also got a bump, reaching £1 million.

Some games did see smaller pots this year. Dota 2 dropped by £1.6 million, and StarCraft II lost £240,000.

Which teams have qualified for the 2025 Esports World Cup, and how were they selected?

Each game has its own way of picking teams—there’s no one-size-fits-all system. Most team lineups aren’t public yet since qualifiers are still running.

The EWCF Club Partner Programme expanded from 30 to 40 orgs for 2025. These clubs got six-figure funding to build their brands ahead of the event.

Applications closed in January, and the final list of teams will be out in February.

Individual game qualifiers run through the spring. Teams earn their spots via regional tournaments, rankings, and direct invites based on recent results.

What are the dates for the Esports World Cup 2025, and is there a schedule available?

The Esports World Cup 2025 kicks off on July 8 and wraps up on August 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That’s about seven weeks packed with action across 25 different games.

Organizers set the event during summer holidays, so students and plenty of working fans can actually tune in or attend. Each game gets its own slot within that window.

Schedules for individual games depend on their formats. Some games go straight into knockouts, while others start with group stages before heading into playoffs.

We probably won’t see the full schedule until it gets closer to the event. Usually, they drop the detailed timetable about a month or so before everything starts.

Are there any new titles being introduced to the Esports World Cup in 2025?

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is the headline new addition for 2025. SNK is launching this fighting game on PC and consoles in late April, so players will have a bit of time to practice before the big stage.

Organizers also plan to reveal five more games during special announcement events. Expect those reveals to trickle out between February and May.

Chess is joining the lineup, which is honestly a bit of a surprise. Crossfire steps in as a new first-person shooter, which should shake things up.

Rennsport joins as the racing game pick. For the first time, motorsport simulation gets its own spotlight in the tournament.

How can fans attend the 2025 Esports World Cup matches, and will there be live streaming options?

The tournament will happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and organizers plan to use several different venues.

Right now, they haven’t shared ticket info or venue details, so we’ll have to wait for an official announcement.

Fans who went in previous years say the production values were top-notch. They mention immersive experiences and a lively atmosphere.

You’ll likely find merch stalls, spots for meet-and-greets, and plenty of food courts.

They always stream matches live for fans around the world. You can catch most of the action on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, and you’ll get commentary from professional casters.

Major matches usually get broadcast in several languages. You can expect streams in English, Arabic, and other regional languages for big games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2.