WATCH NOW
Watch on the app
The Esports World Cup Is On and Latin America’s Got Skin in the Game
The Esports World Cup 2025 officially kicked off on July 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring a huge lineup of 26 competitions across various genres and platforms. Running through August 24, this second edition of the EWC is already turning heads with its massive $71.5 million prize pool, transforming esports into a fully immersive cultural phenomenon. Supported by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the event blends elite competition with entertainment, tourism, and innovation.
Esports World Cup 2025: Inside the mega-event uniting the gaming world in Saudi Arabia
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
With over 2,000 players and 200 clubs participating from around the globe, the EWC has established itself as the most ambitious esports tournament to date. Featuring musical acts like Post Malone at the opening ceremony, anime-themed cafes, cosplay areas, retro arcades, and championship competitions across 25 major titles, the event sits at the intersection of pop culture and professional gaming.
Among the new games added this year are Valorant, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Crossfire, Naraka: Bladepoint, and online chess, further broadening the competitive landscape. With figures like Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Cristiano Ronaldo as ambassadors, the event’s star power reaches well beyond the digital space.
Latinos in the Game
This year, Latin America is showing strong representation. Three powerhouse organizations from South America have joined the prestigious Club Partner Program, which offers significant financial backing and exposure for select esports clubs:
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
FURIA (Brazil): Competing in games like Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Valorant, and more, FURIA consistently ranks among the top esports organizations globally.
Leviatán (Argentina): This multi-game team has a strong presence in CS:GO, Free Fire, Rainbow Six, and League of Legends, known for its consistent performance and dedicated fanbase.
LOUD (Brazil): LOUD is one of the most followed esports brands globally. They gained fame with their 2022 Valorant Champions win and remain a cultural icon in the Latin gaming scene.
View this post on Instagram
Championship Format
The EWC’s setup is designed to reward both focus and flexibility. The $27 million Club Championship recognizes organizations that consistently perform well across different games, while individual Game Championships and MVP awards honor standout players. A strict eligibility period required teams to commit early on to be part of the Club rankings.
Games featured in the 2025 lineup include: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 25, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Naraka: Bladepoint, Overwatch 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege X, Rennsport, Rocket League, StarCraft II, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, Tekken 8, Valorant.
As the competition moves start to come up, all eyes are on whether any of the Latin American teams can pull off a late surge or if 2025 will turn out to be another year of laying the groundwork for Latin America’s presence in the esports world.
for the latest updates from LatiNation