Esports World Cup Launches Global Road to EWC Qualifiers

The Esports World Cup Foundation has kicked off the official path to Riyadh with the global launch of its “Road to EWC” program. This qualification series sets the stage for the Esports World Cup 2025, which is set to run from July 7 to August 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Good to know

• Over 200 tournaments will feed into the Esports World Cup 2025.
• More than 2,000 pro players and 200 top Clubs expected to compete.
• Prize pool exceeds $70 million, the largest in esports history.

The Road to EWC connects hundreds of tournaments, from grassroots circuits to elite global leagues, giving players of all backgrounds a chance to earn a spot on esports’ biggest stage. It covers 25 tournaments across 24 titles, and four new games – Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, and VALORANT – have joined the roster for 2025.

“Road to EWC is a platform for every player, Club, and community whose journey defines the spirit of competition,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “By connecting hundreds of tournaments across the world, we are creating life-changing opportunities for players at every level, bringing the world’s best talent to Riyadh. This is how we grow the sport – by growing our partnerships, investing in competitions and laying the foundation for sustainable growth across the industry.”

How Players Qualify Across Different Titles

For top-tier titles such as League of Legends, VALORANT, Overwatch 2, and Apex Legends, the path to Riyadh runs through official publisher circuits like LEC, VCT, OWCS, and ALGS. In other titles like Dota 2, Warzone, StarCraft II, and PUBG, open online qualifiers are being held.

Fighting game competitors from TEKKEN 8, Street Fighter 6, and Fatal Fury can qualify through grassroots and community events such as EVO Japan, Combo Breaker, and CEO. Meanwhile, mobile gamers will compete in regional leagues, with champions from Southeast Asia, MENA, and LATAM qualifying in titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, PUBG MOBILE, and Honor of Kings.

There will also be Last Chance Qualifiers in July for several games including Chess, EA SPORTS FC 25, and Overwatch 2, providing another shot for rising talent to reach the Esports World Cup.

Beyond gameplay, the Road to EWC includes a global media push, featuring behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and explainers aimed at expanding esports’ reach and engaging fans around the world.

With its cross-game competition model and a record-setting prize pool of over $70 million, the Esports World Cup 2025 will unite platforms, genres, and regions under one global event, crowning the top esports Clubs and players in the world.