S8UL and GodLike Esports were picked for the Esports Foundation Club Partner Program for 2026. The selection placed both Indian clubs among 40 teams in the global group. The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Riyadh ran from July 6 to August 23. Organisers listed a prize pool of $75 million, about INR 710 crore.
The Esports Foundation said the Club Partner Program entered its third year in 2026. The annual programme was worth $20 million, around INR 189 crore. Each club could receive funding of up to $1 million, about INR 9.4 crore. The support also included planning help and international visibility through EWC 2026.
S8UL returned after becoming the first Indian organisation in the programme last year. S8UL competed at EWC 2025 in Apex Legends,
Chess, and EA FC. S8UL also ran a large fan engagement drive in India. The club hosted watch parties across 12 cities. S8UL also used its Mumbai gaming house as an EWC fan hub.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL said, "Being selected for the Esports Foundation's Club Partner Program for the second consecutive year is a strong validation of what we're building at S8UL. Last year gave us the opportunity to showcase our competitive strength and the power of our community on a global stage. This year, we want to build on that momentum by going bigger across performance, content, and fan engagement, while continuing to represent India at the highest level of esports. "
GodLike Esports joined the Club Partner Program for the first time in 2026. The organisation was known for mobile esports results and a large fanbase in India. GodLike competed in several game titles. The Esports Foundation said GodLike would represent India alongside S8UL at EWC 2026. The move added another Indian club to the global partner group.
"For us, this is a defining moment, not just as a team but as a community that has grown with Indian esports. GodLike has always been built on the strength of its fans, and this platform allows us to take that energy global. Through the Club Partner Program, we aim to expand our reach across new markets, tell deeper stories around our players and journey, and create meaningful fan experiences that go beyond competition. We are excited to represent India on the world stage. " said Chetan Sanjay Chandgude, CEO and Founder of GodLike Esports.
The two Indian clubs planned season-long activities under the Club Partner Program. These included content releases, creator tie-ins, and fan campaigns. The plans also covered live events, such as watch parties and community meets. The Esports Foundation said these efforts aimed to connect supporters with clubs and the EWC 2026 competition period.
"The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program reaches fans globally and changes the way they experience esports," said Hans Jagnow, Director, Clubs, National Teams and Players Relations at the Esports Foundation. "Over the past editions, it has created a platform for Clubs to strengthen their brands and engage with audiences, and we're seeing the results of that in the impact it delivers. With new clubs joining alongside established names in 2026, the program continues to expand in high-growth markets such as Latin America, India, Turkey, and South-East Asia, enhancing the global character of the ecosystem. "
EWC 2026 and Club Partner Program tournament scale
EWC 2026 was set to include over 2,000 players and 200 clubs. Participants were expected from more than 100 countries. Events were planned across 24 titles. The Club Championship sat at the centre of the tournament. It offered $30 million, about INR 284 crore, for top organisations. Organisers linked that prize to multi-title performance.
2026 EWCF Club Partner Program clubs
- 100 Thieves
- 9z Globant
- All Gamers
- Alpha7 Esports
- Cloud9
- Edward Gaming
- Fluxo
- 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
- W7M
- ZETA DIVISION
Esports Foundation Club Partner Program and EWC 2026 reach
The Esports Foundation said the programme started in 2023 and invested over $100 million, about INR 948 crore. That figure covered the Club Partner Program and the Club Championship. The Esports Foundation linked the support to competitive operations, marketing, and fan engagement. It also pointed to storytelling that highlighted player personalities, talent, and career paths.
The Esports Foundation said the selected clubs reached more than 300 million fans combined. The 2026 group covered North America, Europe, MENA, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. The organisation said results from 2025 included over 330 million campaign views. It also reported over 10 million fans engaged across 370 initiatives and more than 130 watch parties.
The Esports Foundation added that the 2025 Superfan programme brought over 2,000 fans to arenas in Riyadh. For 2026, S8UL and GodLike joined the wider group of 40 clubs in the Club Partner Program. The EWC 2026 dates and prize pool were already set by organisers. The two Indian clubs were due to take part in partner activities through the season.
