Esports World Cup Levels Up For Its 2025 Return To Riyadh

The stage is set for this year's installment of the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s biggest gaming tournament, which is being hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 8 to August 24, 2025.  

Now in its second edition, EWC 2025 features 25 tournaments across 24 game titles with participation from over 200 clubs and 2,000 players from more than 100 countries. Backed by a record-breaking US$70 million prize pool, it’s the largest esports tournament in history—and a statement of long-term investment in the industry. 

“We’ve built a purpose-driven platform that’s not just about crowning winners, but about supporting the global esports ecosystem—players, clubs, publishers, fans, and partners—through a unified competitive format and a world-class cultural festival,” Mike McCabe, COO of the EWC Foundation, told Inc. Arabia. “It’s not a weekend sprint; it’s a sustained global showcase.”

Mike McCabe, COO of the EWC Foundation. 

Held under the banner of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, EWC 2025, which is being run over the course of seven weeks, is not only massive in scale, but it also aims to elevate the Kingdom’s ambitions in global digital entertainment—and those goals are set to be given a boost thanks to global sports icon Cristiano Ronaldo being unveiled as the official ambassador of the event. 

“Ronaldo brings global cultural relevance,” McCabe pointed out. “He’s an icon who transcends football. He’s someone with unmatched reach and resonance. His involvement helps bridge the gap between traditional sports and esports, validating the EWC on the world stage. It also drives fan engagement, especially among audiences who may not yet consider themselves esports fans. It’s a powerful signal that esports have entered the mainstream." 

This year’s prize pool for the EWC exceeds last year’s $62.5 million, which reflects the tournament’s growing scale and ambition. The total purse is allocated across several key categories: $27 million is dedicated to the Club Championship, with $7 million awarded to the top-performing club. Another $38 million will be distributed among the 25 individual game tournaments. Additionally, $450,000 is earmarked for Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards to honor standout player performances, while $5 million supports the qualifier rounds leading up to the main event. 

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the official ambassador of EWC 2025.

To claim the Club Championship title, a team must secure victory in at least one tournament and be placed within the top eight in two or more additional events. Last year, KSA-based Team Falcons took home the championship, followed by the Netherlands’ Team Liquid and Switzerland’s Team BDS. With an expanded roster of participating teams this year, the competition is expected to draw heightened global interest from the esports community.

Beyond the prize money, EWC is also directly supporting 40 clubs through its Partner Program, offering up to $1 million each for content, staffing, and fan development. “The goal is to strengthen the professional pathway, and ensure this isn’t just the biggest stage, but the most reliable one, year after year,” McCabe said. 

Reflecting on last year’s inaugural event, McCabe noted that the 2024 edition provided valuable insight into audience behavior and production strategy. “One of the biggest lessons was the importance of narrative and access,” he said. “Last year’s event proved that fans want more than matches; they want context, stories, and entry points. So, this year, we’ve doubled down on storytelling, broadcast accessibility, and creator integration. Operationally, we also learned how to better pace the tournament over seven weeks, streamline technical redundancies, and tailor experiences game by game. That insight has shaped everything, from production and scheduling to fan engagement and venue layout. That insight has shaped everything, from production and scheduling to fan engagement and venue layout.” 

KSA-based Team Falcons at the EWC last year.

This year’s edition of the EWC is thus set to operate across four purpose-built esports stages, a dedicated community stage, and a sixth platform for genre-themed content. The infrastructure includes AI-powered cameras, robust connectivity and power backups, and dynamic fan zones. According to McCabe, fan experience is just as central to the EWC’s strategy as the competition itself. “We’re creating a festival that meets fans where they are, both online and on-site,” he said.  

Indeed, to bring the action to life for attendees, the on-site experience is packed with interactive installations tailored to different gaming genres. “We’re building a festival that truly allows fans to connect with gaming on a personal level,” McCabe said. “From hands-on zones and cosplay to music, food, and genre-themed weeks, there’s something for everyone to explore and make their own.” Online, the reach is expanded through co-streamers, first-time viewer content, and global broadcaster partnerships. “It’s not one-size-fits-all; we tailor the programming per title and per platform to deliver something immersive, contextual, and personal,” McCabe said. 

The Players Arena at the EWC.

One of the flagship additions for the event this year, as per McCabe, is the Esports Embassy, EWC’s luxury B2B hospitality lounge. “Think F1 Paddock Club for esports,” he declared. Located at the heart of the venue, it features views of the three largest arenas, first-class food and beverage, curated networking, and behind-the-scenes access. “It’s where business will get done, where culture will meet competition, and where VIPs will engage deeply with the future of gaming,” McCabe said. “It’s a multi-year investment, and a first-of-its-kind for the industry.” 

McCabe also pointed to Creator Park as another standout feature of this year’s on-site festival. It includes a space packed with meet-and-greets, creator-led competitions, and unique moments that bring fans closer to their favorite personalities. Plus, there is also the the New Global Sport Conference, which will take place on August 23 and 24 and bring together leading figures from the gaming, tech, media, and sports industries for high-level networking and collaboration. 

The EWC arena during last year's inaugural event.

McCabe highlighted strategic alliances with regional and global entities like PepsiCo, HONOUR, Lenovo, Aramaco and Albaik, as having played a pivotal role in shaping the EWC’s evolution into a global-scale tournament. “Our partners are more than sponsors, they’re accelerators of impact,” he said. “STC is a founding partner and the digital backbone of the tournament. Amazon supports us through Twitch, Prime Video, and even Alexa integration. Secretlab enhances player comfort and performance.” 

Underlining the importance of building a financially sustainable ecosystem, McCabe noted that the EWC has been structured for long-term viability through multiple revenue streams. “We’re building a diversified model: sponsorships, media rights, ticketing, merchandise, and in-game activations with publishers all contribute,” he explained. “We’ve also launched new intellectual property (IP) like the Level Up docuseries and the Esports Embassy to create premium, monetizable experiences.” 

A scene from EWC 2025.

McCabe also pointed out that the tournament’s impact goes far beyond the confines of the arena, touching multiple sectors across the Saudi economy. “The result is a ripple effect, supporting hotels, logistics, startups, content studios, and new career pathways in esports,” he said. “This isn’t just a tournament; it’s an economic engine.”

EWC is also emerging as a meaningful launchpad for innovation across the region's startup ecosystem, McCabe added. “Whether you’re developing broadcast tech, fan engagement tools, or creator platforms, EWC creates a predictable platform for startups to build around,” he said. “We’re exploring ways to formalize this by partnering with accelerators, offering vendor opportunities, and giving visibility to Saudi-built tech.” 

And while we may be only just getting started with this year’s edition of the EWC, McCabe noted that plans are underway for its long term as well. “We’re building for permanence,” he said. “Over the next 3–5 years, we expect to see the Esports World Cup become the pinnacle of competitive gaming where every club wants to qualify, every game wants to be featured, and fans plan their summers around it.

With long-term investments and a move to Qiddiya [a planned entertainment city located just outside of Riyadh] on the horizon, we’ll have the physical and digital infrastructure to scale even further. Think more disciplines, more countries, more partners, and ultimately, more impact for the global esports and gaming community.” 

All images courtesy of Esports World Cup (EWC).