The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Riot Games have announced a thrilling three-year partnership that will see VALORANT make its debut at the Esports World Cup 2025. This exciting addition joins the ranks of League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics (TFT), promising an unforgettable event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this summer.
As leading titles in their genres, these games will showcase the best clubs, players, and talent in the esports world. League of Legends fans can anticipate an international showdown featuring top teams vying for prestige and a life-changing prize pool. VALORANT will host its largest major tournament outside the VCT structure, bringing together some of the most compelling players. Meanwhile, TFT will offer a platform for top international talent to compete in an engaging team format.
This collaboration strengthens the EWC’s position as a global platform for the industry’s most influential games, uniting top esports titles under one competitive banner. The addition of VALORANT further solidifies this mission, expanding the reach and engagement of esports as mainstream entertainment. To date, 23 tournaments across 22 games, including first-person shooters, MOBAs, battle royales, real-time strategy, and fighting games, have been announced for 2025, with more to come.
The agreement also includes a global commercial partnership between EWCF and LOL Esports, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), and the TFT 2025 competitive circuit. This collaboration will feature EWC in-broadcast activations at LoL Esports, VCT, and TFT global LAN events, starting with VCT Masters Bangkok on February 20, 2025.
“Riot Games has shaped the cultural impact of competitive gaming, transforming esports into a global entertainment force,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “By bringing these titles to the Esports World Cup, we are not just celebrating elite gameplay – we are expanding esports as a global entertainment movement, creating deeper connections with fans across gaming, music, and digital culture.”
League of Legends, with 100 million active monthly players, delivered a standout moment at the EWC 2024 Grand Final as esports legend Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok led T1 to victory in front of 12.5 million viewers online and thousands of fans in Riyadh. In the Teamfight Tactics Grand Finals, Wolves Esports, representing English Premier League club Wolves, claimed the title with a 3-1 win, led by MVP Li “LiShao” Chengyu.
Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players, and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
