Esports Foundation Selects 40 Clubs for $20 Million Program, Reaching Over 300 Million Fans

(AsiaGameHub) –   This industry-leading initiative, now in its third year, has invested over $100m into clubs to date, offering up to $1 million per club to support growth and expand global audiences

The Esports Foundation (EF) announced today the 40 esports clubs selected for the 2026 Esports Foundation Club Partner Program, reaffirming its commitment to a sustainable and globally connected esports ecosystem.

Now in its third iteration, the $20 million initiative builds on a proven framework, pairing up to $1 million in funding per club with strategic guidance and international exposure to support clubs as they grow their brands and audiences before and during the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Over the past three years, over $100 million has been distributed directly to clubs through both the Club Partner Program and Club Championship, supporting development across competitive operations, marketing, and fan engagement. The program established a unique partnership model for global sport, allowing clubs to access funding to grow their brands and audiences via marketing and storytelling that highlight players’ personalities, talent, and personal journeys.

The selected clubs collectively reach more than 300 million fans across the globe, highlighting the influence of club-led communities in shaping how audiences interact with competitive gaming. Spanning North America, Europe, MENA, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America, the 2026 cohort reflects the global reach and ongoing growth of esports across all regions.

“The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program reaches fans globally and transforms how they experience esports,” said Hans Jagnow, Director, Clubs, National Teams and Players Relations at the Esports Foundation. “Across past editions, it has created a platform for clubs to strengthen their brands and engage with audiences, and we are already seeing clear results from the impact it delivers. For 2026, new clubs are joining alongside established industry names, and the program continues to expand in high-growth markets including Latin America, India, Turkey, and Southeast Asia, strengthening the global identity of the esports ecosystem.”

With a geographically balanced roster, the program includes nine clubs from Europe, six from China, five from North America, alongside four from Southeast Asia, three from Brazil, and two from Latin America. India grows its representation with two selected clubs, while Türkiye joins the program for the first time, alongside returning clubs from Japan, Korea, MENA, and the CIS.

The 40 Clubs selected for the 2026 EF Club Partner Program are, in alphabetical order:

• 100 Thieves,
• 9z Globant,
• All Gamers,
• Alpha7 Esports,
• Cloud9,
• Edward Gaming,
• Fluxo W7M,
• Fnatic,
• FURIA,
• FUT Esports,
• G2 Esports,
• GAM Esports,
• Gen.G,
• Gentle Mates,
• GodLike,
• HEROIC,
• JD Gaming,
• LEVIATAN,
• MOUZ,
• NAVI,
• NIP.eStar,
• NRG,
• ONIC,
• REJECT,
• S8UL,
• Sentinels,
• T1,
• Team Falcons,
• Team Heretics,
• Team Liquid,
• Team RRQ,
• Team Secret,
• Team Spirit,
• Team Vitality,
• Titan Esports Club,
• Twisted Minds,
• Virtus.pro,
• Weibo Gaming,
• Wolves Esports,
• ZETA DIVISION.

“Through the Club Partner Program, we’ve been able to connect our global fans with the key moments that define Team Vitality, ” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, Chairman and co-founder of Team Vitality. “For every triumph at the EWC, the Hive’s presence has been felt and seen by millions of viewers around the world as we continue working toward claiming the EWC Club Championship trophy. The scale of the event, followed by fans at home across the globe, shows just how impactful esports has become.”

Joe Marsh, CEO of T1, added: “The Club Partner Program gives us the platform to build our brand around our players and the moments that shape our season. We want fans to follow this journey closely through our players’ stories and the voices of the community behind our team that bring it to life. At the same time, we are expanding how fans gather together, from our T1 Base Camp locations in Seoul and Busan to our international T1 tour fan events, T1 Home Ground LCK matches, and dedicated superfan experiences for our biggest matches. It lets us take what makes T1 unique at home and bring that full experience to a global audience.”

The EF Club Partner Program enables clubs to grow and activate their audiences through original content, marketing campaigns, and live experiences all season long. In 2025, participating clubs earned more than 300 million total campaign views and actively engaged over 10 million fans across more than 370 initiatives, including original content, fan events, and digital activations. Over 130 watch parties were hosted globally, while the Superfan program gave clubs’ most passionate fans the chance to travel to Riyadh to support their teams throughout the season, bringing more than 2,000 Superfans through the program to EWC 2025 arenas last summer.

Clubs are selected based on an annual review of competitive results, fan engagement, and evaluation of strategic vision and marketing proposals. Eight clubs received direct invitations via their 2025 EWC Club Championship final standings, with the remaining spots filled through an open application process that drew more than 175 applicants worldwide.

Program membership does not guarantee qualification for the Esports World Cup 2026. All clubs must earn qualification through official competition pathways.

To learn more about the EF Club Partner Program, visit esportsworldcup.com/clubprogram. For more information about the Esports World Cup, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow @EWC_EN on X. Follow the Esports Foundation on LinkedIn.