Esports World Cup Foundation offers $20M in partner club expansion

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced this week that it is expanding its Club Partner Program, its initiative to support the esports club ecosystem around the world. The program is expanding to 40 clubs, up 10 from its previous number, and has a $20 million investment to put towards this expansion. Interested clubs can apply for membership through January 10, and those accepted will receive six-figure funding to grow their organization.

Out of the 40 slots, the EWCF plans to issue invitations to eight of the top clubs from the EWC 2024 Championship ranking while leaving the other 32 slots open to applications (member clubs have to renew membership annually). This year, it plans to target key growth markets in China, Southeast Asia, LATAM and MENA. Clubs have to have a track record of high competitive performance as well as an engaged fanbase on social media.