The Esports World Cup (EWC) announced the 2027 EWC Qualifier Program on October 20, 2026. This partnership program is part of the Road to EWC and enables tournament organizers and local esports communities around the world to host official EWC qualifiers.
Through this additional qualification pathway, Road to EWC aims to attract 1.8 million players across more than 400 tournaments throughout 2027. In Indonesia, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the first games to receive a direct qualification pathway to the EWC.
A target of 1.8 million players across more than 400 tournaments
Road to EWC connects publisher-organized leagues, international tournaments, and regional qualifiers into a single global championship. The 2027 EWC Qualifier Program is designed to strengthen that ecosystem.
This means that more players will be able to begin their competitive journey right within their own communities. Registration is now open to tournament organizers, venue providers, and operators around the world.
Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of the Esports Foundation, explained that “Road to EWC” has already demonstrated great potential as various competition pathways are connected. “There are many high-quality tournaments and strong esports communities across the globe. By involving more tournaments and communities in Road to EWC, we can open up more opportunities for players to compete within their own communities, while also giving the local esports ecosystem an official role in paving the way to the Esports World Cup,” he said.
Two paths: Direct Qualifiers and Satellite LCQ
The EWC Qualifier Program features two qualification pathways managed by partners. Both integrate existing competitions and grassroots tournaments into the Road to EWC.
EWC Direct Qualifiers
This pathway strengthens the connection between existing esports tournaments and the Road to EWC. Organizers continue to manage and fund the competitions under their own identities and brands, including commercial opportunities at the local level.
The requirement is that the tournament must meet the standards set by the EWC and the publisher. In return, the tournament serves as an official qualification path to the EWC for players.
EWC Satellite Last Chance Qualifiers (SLCQ)
The second track focuses on grassroots participation. The following parties are eligible to register as organizers:
- Local tournament organizers
- Federations and associations
- Internet café (warnet)
- University
- Tournament Venue Provider
- Game Festival
They can partner with existing competitions or create new tournaments with their own identity, with marketing support from the Esports Foundation. The winners will earn a direct spot in the corresponding EWC Last Chance Qualifier tournament this coming summer.
In that round, players will compete for a spot in the EWC main event. The Esports Foundation also provides accommodation and visa support for the winners.
First match of the Satellite LCQ
In the initial phase, SLCQ is available for the following four games:
- Chess
- Counter-Strike 2
- FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves
- Street Fighter 6
Additional games will be announced in the next phase. All Direct Qualifiers and Satellite LCQs must comply with the publisher’s requirements and EWC’s competitive standards, including match rules, anti-cheat measures, officiating, and verified match results.
The benefits of alternative pathways like this have been proven. João “jafonsogv” Vasconcelos qualified through the EA SPORTS FC Last Chance Qualifier before going on to win the 2024 EWC. That achievement even led to the creation of the Jafonso Award, an honor given to players who achieve similar success.
Opportunities for Indonesian players
Until now, Indonesia’s representatives at the EWC have mostly come from the publisher leagues for mobile games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, and PUBG MOBILE. Now, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has become one of the first games to receive a direct qualification path to the EWC.
This opens up opportunities for more Indonesian players to compete on the global esports stage.
How to Register and Deadlines
Registration for the 2027 EWC Direct Qualifiers and Satellite LCQ programs is now open via esportsworldcup.com through December 20, 2026. The selected tournaments must be completed no later than June 1, 2027.
Organizers can also submit registration requests or request information via the following email address:
Details regarding Direct Qualifier partners, tournament participants, and qualification slots will be announced alongside the next Road to EWC 2027 announcement.
About the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup is an annual esports tournament featuring a cross-game format that brings together the world’s top esports clubs to compete for the largest total prize pool in esports history. The EWC will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2027 to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion.
For those of you who are active in the esports community—whether as tournament organizers, internet café managers, or university representatives—this program could serve as the official gateway to bring local players to the EWC 2027.
