The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially launched Road to EWC, a global qualification program to determine who earns a place at the Esports World Cup 2026.
Road to EWC 2026 will feature more than 230 tournaments across every major esports region and level of competition, linking publisher-led leagues, elite international events, and open qualifiers into a single, season-long pathway. The qualification circuit will culminate at EWC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is scheduled to run from July 6 to August 23, 2026.
According to the Esports World Cup Foundation, the program is designed to bring structure and clarity to qualification across multiple titles and publisher ecosystems, while giving players, Clubs, and fans a unified calendar to follow throughout the year.
By aligning existing leagues, standalone events, and grassroots tournaments under one umbrella, Road to EWC aims to support competitive integrity and long-term investment across the global esports ecosystem.
Road to EWC Announced
“Road to EWC brings together the journeys that shape competitive esports,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “By creating a defined qualification season, it gives the whole industry the confidence to plan; players can focus on performance, Clubs can commit resources earlier, publishers can align their ecosystems, and fans know when and where the biggest moments will happen.”
All qualifying events will feed into a unified Esports World Cup calendar, allowing fans to follow progression from regional competitions through to the final stage in Riyadh. Throughout the season, the Road to EWC marketing campaign will also deliver match highlights, player interviews, feature content, live broadcasts, and on-site coverage from creators and influencers attending key events across multiple titles.
A dedicated Road to EWC hub will host the full qualification calendar for 2026, including dates, formats, locations, and viewing options, giving fans a central place to track teams and players as the road to the Esports World Cup unfolds.