The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has opened applications for its next Club Partner Program, and it comes with a huge promise: a fresh $20 million commitment to support top esports clubs around the globe.

This is not a simple prize pool. It is structured support, given across the season, to help clubs grow their fanbases, strengthen their brands, and test new ways to earn revenue. Forty clubs will be selected, some through direct invites and the rest through an open application, to receive funding, guidance, and global exposure.

Past partner clubs, such as All Gamers and G2, used this program to enter new game titles, launch bold fan campaigns, and turn regional success into global recognition. If you own, manage, or even just follow an esports club, this program shapes who grows fastest and who becomes a long-term powerhouse. Why sit on the sidelines when the tools to scale might be on the table?

What Is the Esports World Cup Club Partner Program and Why Is It a Big Deal?

At its core, the EWCF Club Partner Program is a long-term support system for leading esports clubs. Each cycle, the Foundation selects 40 clubs and backs them with money, strategic support, and promotional power around the Esports World Cup.

The program sits inside the larger Esports World Cup ecosystem, which brings many top titles and organizations together in Riyadh for a cross-game club championship. Clubs do not just show up, play a single title, then disappear. They build season-long storylines, connect multiple rosters under one banner, and compete for the title of top club overall.

The Foundation has a clear focus on sustainable, global growth, not quick cash grabs. Funding is tied to things like fan engagement, content, and community projects, not only match results. In a recent cycle, nearly 200 clubs applied and 40 were chosen, showing how much demand exists for this kind of structured backing.

Impact so far has been large. Partner clubs have run campaigns that connected with more than 300 million fans worldwide, including well over 100 million in China. Some of the most eye-catching projects included a jersey launch that sent memorabilia into space, an anime-style film, and art-driven fan programs around club identities. It is less about one big moment and more about turning strong clubs into global entertainment brands, not just lineups that try to win trophies.

How the Program Helps Build a Global, Connected Esports Ecosystem

When EWCF talks about a “sustainable and globally connected ecosystem,” the idea is simple. Strong clubs in one country should be able to reach fans in other regions, find new partners, and survive beyond one season of good results.

The Club Partner Program brings together organizations from China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, LATAM, and more. These clubs receive funding to launch campaigns that speak to both local and international fans. Many of those stories then come together on-site in Riyadh, where fans see their favorite clubs from different games share the same stage.

One big example is the Superfan program. In a recent edition, about 2,000 fans were flown to Riyadh through contests and club-run campaigns. For many supporters, it was the first time they met their favorite pros in person or watched them live. That kind of moment can turn a casual viewer into a lifelong fan.

By backing creative projects, EWCF helps clubs break out of the old model of relying only on sponsorships and prize money. New projects can turn into new revenue streams, such as:

  • Original shows or anime-style content built around club storylines
  • Limited drops tied to art, fashion, or music
  • Special membership or loyalty perks for “superfans”

A club that finds three or four income sources on top of traditional sponsorships is much more likely to survive roster changes, meta shifts, or publisher decisions.

How Past Partner Clubs Turned Support Into Real Growth

The easiest way to see the value of the program is to look at clubs that already used it to grow.

All Gamers is a strong example. After joining the program, the club added more game titles to its lineup and went on to win championships in mobile and PC shooters. At the same time, it climbed the Esports World Cup Club Championship ranking, jumping several spots year over year. That rise did more than pad their trophy case. It helped turn All Gamers from a mostly Chinese brand into a club recognized by fans across regions.

G2 took a slightly different path. The organization already saw itself as both a competitive club and an entertainment brand. With support from the EWCF program, G2 leaned into that identity. It pulled off a space-themed project that involved launching G2 memorabilia by rocket and expanded into more game titles. Around those lineups, the club rolled out fan-focused content and social campaigns that highlighted players, memes, and storylines.

Other partner clubs, like REJECT or Karmine Corp, used the program to back creative work such as anime-style films or art-focused fan events. Each case shows the same pattern. The program gives clubs a safer space to try bold ideas that most teams could not fund on their own.

For a club thinking about applying, a fair question is: what kind of story could you tell if you had both budget and a global platform to amplify it?

Inside the $20 Million Investment: What Selected Esports Clubs Actually Get

A big number like $20 million can feel abstract, so what does it look like in real terms for a single club?

Selected clubs receive at least a six-figure support package, often structured in stages through the Esports World Cup season. Funding is modular, tied to specific campaigns, content plans, fan events, or regional growth targets. That means a club might receive one chunk to launch a new title campaign, another for a fan project, and a third linked to performance and engagement results.

This is not a blank check. The Foundation works with each club to design plans that fit its brand and market. A club strong in Brazil and Mexico might focus heavily on Spanish and Portuguese content plus on-ground watch parties. Another that wants to break into Asia might use support to open new language channels, partner with local creators, or launch themed content.

On top of direct funding, partner clubs receive:

  • Strategic guidance from EWCF staff and advisors
  • Co-marketing and content pushes across Esports World Cup channels
  • Access to innovation projects and activations around the live event
  • Priority involvement in the Superfan program and fan campaigns

For fans, this means more content, more events, and more chances to see their favorite clubs on big stages. For owners and managers, it means help turning ambition into a realistic plan.

Funding, Marketing, and Strategic Support Clubs Can Expect

Partner clubs can usually count on three core types of support.

1. Financial backing for campaigns and operations

Clubs receive money to cover costs tied to the Esports World Cup season. That might include content shoots, regional marketing, community events, or support staff for multiple rosters. Because the funding is modular and performance-linked, clubs that execute well and hit engagement goals can unlock more value over the cycle.

2. Global marketing and co-branded storytelling

EWCF promotes partner clubs through its own channels, broadcasts, and live event coverage. Co-branded videos, social posts, and behind-the-scenes content help clubs reach audiences they might never touch alone. In a recent cycle, partner teams connected with over 300 million fans worldwide across all campaigns, which shows what can happen when many stories roll up into one big platform.

3. Strategic input on long-term growth

Foundation staff work with clubs on topics like:

  • How to grow fan communities across multiple languages
  • How to turn casual followers into paying supporters
  • How to balance new titles with existing lineups

This guidance is especially helpful for clubs from newer regions that are just starting to reach global fans.

Innovation, Fan Experiences, and the Superfan Program

The Club Partner Program doubles as an innovation lab. EWCF actively pushes clubs to think like media and entertainment companies, not only sports teams.

G2’s space-themed jersey project is one standout. REJECT’s anime-inspired content and Karmine Corp’s art program are others. These ideas might sound wild on paper, but they gave fans something to talk about, share, and remember for years.

The Superfan program is a key part of this experience layer. Partner clubs can run contests that reward their most dedicated supporters with a trip to Riyadh. Winners get to attend the live event, meet players, and feel like part of the club’s inner circle.

Why does this matter?

  • For clubs, these fans become core community members who organize watch parties, run fan pages, and spread content.
  • For sponsors and partners, it proves that a club can mobilize real people, not just social metrics.
  • For the scene as a whole, it creates stories that remind people esports is not only about who wins, but about who cares enough to show up.

If you are a club leader, ask yourself: what kind of unforgettable fan moment could your team build with this kind of backing?

Who Can Apply to the Esports World Cup Club Partner Program?

The program is open to esports clubs from all regions, from long-running powerhouses to fast-growing organizations that already operate at a high level. EWCF is not just looking for whoever shouts the loudest. It looks for clubs that tick three broad boxes.

In simple terms, the Foundation looks for:

  • Competitive strength across multiple titles
  • A clear long-term vision for growth
  • Proven ability to build and engage a fan community

The target number of partner clubs stays at 40 each cycle. Membership is not permanent. A club has to perform, grow, and keep its strategy sharp if it wants to return in future cycles.

It is also important to note that being in the Club Partner Program does not give a club automatic entry to the Esports World Cup itself. Each team must still qualify through the normal pathway for each game, through regional qualifiers, leagues, or direct invites from publishers.

Direct Invites vs Open Applications: How the 40 Partner Slots Are Filled

The 40 partner slots are split between direct invites and open applications.

Up to eight clubs receive direct invitations based on their performance in the most recent Esports World Cup Club Championship ranking. In a recent cycle, clubs such as Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, AG.AL, Gen.G Esports, and Weibo Gaming were lined up for invites, subject to acceptance.

The remaining slots, more than thirty places, are open to clubs worldwide through a public application form on the Esports World Cup website. In a previous round, almost 200 clubs applied. Only 40 made the final list, which included a mix of returning partners and new faces.

This mix matters. It keeps strong, consistent clubs in the ecosystem, but it also gives new organizations a realistic shot at joining the top tier. For a hungry club with clear plans and growing results, the open application path is more than a formality, it is a real chance.

Key Criteria: Competitive Excellence, Vision, and Community Power

So what does a strong application look like in practice?

Competitive excellence

EWCF looks for clubs that:

  • Compete in more than one game title
  • Show strong results in top events, not only local cups
  • Have stable rosters and support staff, not one-off mixes

This does not mean a club must win every trophy, but it should prove it can keep teams at a high level over time.

Long-term vision

The Foundation wants to see clear answers to questions like:

  • Where will this club be in three to five years?
  • Which games and regions does it want to expand into next?
  • How will it balance growth with financial stability?

Clubs that show a real plan, rather than vague hype, tend to stand out.

Community and content strength

Finally, EWCF pays close attention to how clubs treat their fans. Strong candidates can show:

  • Active social channels with real engagement, not just follower counts
  • Content that fits their audience, such as short-form video, streams, or documentaries
  • Events, watch parties, or creative campaigns in focus regions such as India, China, Southeast Asia, and LATAM

Clubs that already act like entertainment brands, not only tournament lineups, fit the spirit of the program very well.

If you are part of a club thinking about applying, a helpful test is simple: can you honestly say your organization is strong on performance, planning, and people?

Conclusion

The EWCF Club Partner Program and its $20 million commitment are shaping which esports clubs rise fastest and how global fandom grows. By combining funding, guidance, and big-stage exposure, the Foundation turns strong teams into long-term brands that can reach fans across regions and across games.

For clubs, the message is clear. Those who apply with a sharp vision, real results, and a deep respect for their community have a rare chance to step onto a much bigger stage. For fans, the program promises more stories, more content, and more chances to connect with the clubs they love.

If your organization is ready to grow, this is the moment to treat esports not just as a competition, but as a global story you help write.