The EWC schedule for 2025 has been officially released, and it’s jam-packed with some of the biggest esports tournaments of the year.
Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this edition of the Esports World Cup is not just a gathering of pro players, it’s a massive celebration of gaming culture.
If you’re an esports fan (or even just game-curious), this is your all-in-one guide to the events, teams, dates, and how to watch the matches from wherever you are.
Whether you're following League of Legends, Valorant, CS2, or even something offbeat like chess, you'll find all the key info right here. So grab your calendar, fire up your favorite game’s Twitch channel, and let’s break it down.
EWC 2025 Complete Schedule
The Esports World Cup officially kicks off on July 7, 2025, and runs until August 24, 2025. That’s nearly two full months of high-stakes competitions, team clashes, and digital glory.
While each game has its own tournament dates, the structure of EWC unfolds over several thematic weeks. Here's a clearer timeline:
Week-by-Week Overview
- July 7 (Opening Ceremony): The event kicks off with the Club Championship introduction, opening show matches, and initial rounds in some games.
- July 8–14: Early group stage action begins for titles like Rennsport, VALORANT, Dota 2, and Fatal Fury.
- July 15–21: Big hitters like League of Legends, Free Fire, and LoL enter the scene. Expect lots of viewership spikes as global teams go head-to-head.
- July 22–28: Tournament finals begin for several games. Group stages wrap up, and top teams start locking in playoff spots.
- July 31–August 3: Chess (rapid format) gets its moment to shine, bringing a different kind of strategy to the EWC spotlight.
- August 4–18: Final weeks bring the heat. Championship rounds for games like Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege, Tekken 8, and EA Sports FC 25.
- August 24: The event closes with a major celebration and final awards for club performances across all titles.By Game Overview
By Game Overview
Below is the tournament schedule for EWC 2025, separated by title
Note that exact match times will be announced closer to each event on the official EWC website, and some dates may be subject to change.
Chess (Rapid Format)
- Dates: July 29 – August 1
- Format: Rapid time control games featuring world-class grandmasters.
Teamfight Tactics (TFT)
- Dates: August 11 – August 15
- Format: 16 players split into 4 groups. Top 2 from each group advance to the final.
League of Legends
- Dates: July 16 – July 20
- Format: 12 teams in total. Group stage followed by knockouts.
- Finals: July 20
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Dates: August 20 – August 23
- Format: 16 teams, GSL group stage, single-elimination playoffs.
Valorant
- Dates: July 8 – July 13
- Format: 16 teams in 4 groups of 4. Top 2 in each group move to playoffs.
- Playoffs: Begin July 19
Dota 2
- Dates: July 16 – July 19
- Format: 16 teams, round-robin group stage. Top 12 proceed to knockouts.
- Finals: July 28
Street Fighter 6
- Dates: August 14 – August 23
- Format: 48 players, double elimination bracket.
Rennsport (Sim Racing)
- Dates: July 8 – July 11
- Format: Multiple heats leading to a final race day.
Fatal Fury
- Dates: July 10 – July 12
- Format: Classic 1v1 fighting game bracket.
PUBG: Battlegrounds
- Dates: August 12 - August 16
- Format: 24 teams in 3 groups of 8. Points-based system decides playoffs.
PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC)
- Dates: July 25 – August 3
- Format: Group stage and finals. Crossover event within EWC.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
- Dates: July 30 – August 2
- Format: 12 to 16 teams. Standard mobile MOBA format with group stage and playoffs.
Free Fire
- Dates: July 16 – July 20
- Format: Regional team qualifiers compete in battle royale-style elimination rounds.
Overwatch 2
- Dates: July 17 – August 3
- Format: 16 invited teams. Standard 5v5 format with elimination bracket.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Dates: July 24 - July 27
- Format: Details coming soon. Likely team-based FPS with objective game modes.
Honor of Kings
- Dates: July 15 - July 20
Apex Legends
- Dates: July 10 - July 13
Starcraft 2
- Dates: July 21 - July 24
Rainbow 6 Siege X
- Dates: August 4 - August 8
CoD: Warzone
- Dates: August 5 - August 8
EA Sports FC 25
- Dates: August 6 - August 9
Tekken 8
- Dates: August 12 - August 15
Rocket League
- Dates: August 13 - August 16
Crossfire
- Dates: August 18 - August 22
Each title’s schedule may overlap slightly with others, so it’s best to double-check on the official EWC schedule page as match times are posted closer to the events.
How Many Teams Are Competing in Each Tournament?
One of the most impressive aspects of EWC is the sheer number of teams and formats in play. Let’s look at how many squads you can expect per tournament (based on current info):
Confirmed Team Counts
League of Legends: 12 teams
- Features a mix of the top MSI teams and high-ranking regional squads.
- Group stage → knockout format.
Teamfight Tactics (TFT): 16 clubs
- Divided into 4 groups of 4.
- Top 2 in each group advance.
Valorant: 16 teams
- Global qualifiers and invites.
- Four groups → playoffs.
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2): 16 teams
- Single-elimination brackets post group stage.
- Plenty of high-profile orgs involved.
Dota 2: 16 teams
- Round-robin group stage, then top 12 head to knockout rounds.
PUBG: Battlegrounds & PMWC: 24 teams
- Group stage split into 3 groups of 8.
- Cumulative points determine playoff placement.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: 16 teams
- Standard bracket-style competition.
Free Fire: 18 teams
- Regional qualifiers feed into EWC main event.
Overwatch 2: 16 teams
- Team-based FPS with elimination format.
Street Fighter 6: 48 players
- Solo bracket-style tourney with winners and losers brackets.
Chess (Rapid): 16 players
- Multiple grandmasters facing off in rapid time control matches.
Rennsport (sim racing): 9 clubs
- Multiple heats culminating in a championship final.
Apex Legends: 40 clubs
Honor of Kings: 18 clubs
Fatal Fury: 16 players
MLBB Women’s: 16 clubs
Starcraft: 18 players
CoD: Black Ops 6: 16 clubs
PUBG Mobile: 24 clubs
Rainbow 6 Siege X: 16 clubs
CoD: Warzone: 21 clubs
EA Sports FC 25: 32 players
Tekken 8: 32 players
Rocket League: 16 clubs
Crossfire: 16 clubs
Note:
Some games, especially those with qualifiers running close to the event, haven’t confirmed all team slots publicly yet.
Titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Clash of Clans, for example, are still finalizing their brackets. Keep an eye on official announcements if you’re following those specifically.
Where to Watch EWC 2025 Matches?
Now for the most important part—how to actually tune in. Fortunately, EWC is making it super easy to catch the action no matter where you live.
Here are your main viewing options:
1. Official Livestreams
The Esports World Cup’s YouTube and Twitch channels will cover the majority of the events, including featured matches, finals, and highlight recaps.
There’s also a live hub on the official website with direct links to every match stream, organized by game and date.
2. Game-Specific Channels
Many of the publishers are hosting their own dedicated streams:
- Riot Games – for League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT
- Valve/BLAST – for CS2 and Dota 2
- Moonton – for Mobile Legends
- Krafton & Tencent – for PUBG
- Chess.com – for all chess-related streams
- Capcom Fighters – for Street Fighter 6
These channels usually provide in-depth commentary, analyst desks, and post-match interviews—perfect if you’re into the competitive scene of a specific title.
3. Language-Specific Broadcasts
Depending on the region, many of these streams are also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Korean, and more. Regional esports broadcasters may also partner with EWC to air the matches on platforms like AfreecaTV, Nimo, or even cable networks in some countries.
4. On-Site Viewing (Riyadh)
If you're lucky enough to be in Saudi Arabia during the event, live tickets are available. The EWC festival includes in-person matches, meet-and-greets, and massive fan zones. Tickets are being sold in tiers, with VIP options that grant access to player lounges and exclusive merch.
Wanna Play Like The Pros?
Watching the top players at EWC 2025 is inspiring, but what if you could actually play like them, too?
While talent, training, and teamwork matter a lot, there’s one thing every pro relies on that most casual players overlook: a stable, low-latency connection.
That’s where NoPing comes in.
NoPing is a software that optimizes your internet connection for online games, reducing ping, packet loss, and lag spikes.
It works with all the major EWC titles, like VALORANT, CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, and more, by rerouting your connection through the fastest routes available. The result? Faster reactions, smoother gameplay, and a real shot at climbing the ranks.
Here’s how to use NoPing to increase your performance in online games:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- Open NoPing and search for your game inside the software
- Once you find it, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing with optimized ping!
You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.
FAQ
Q: What time do matches start each day?
A: Most days follow an early afternoon to evening schedule, in Arabian Standard Time (GMT+3). Matches typically begin around 2 PM local time and stretch into the evening. Exact start times vary by game and day.
Q: Are the matches free to watch online?
A: Yes! All official EWC streams on YouTube and Twitch are free, with no paywalls.
Q: Can I rewatch matches after they’re over?
A: Absolutely. Most games will have full match VODs uploaded to their respective channels. Highlights and recap shows are also planned.
Q: Will there be fantasy esports or prediction games tied to EWC?
A: While not confirmed, EWC is partnering with many game publishers who typically run fantasy systems (like Riot’s Pick’ems). Expect announcements closer to July.
Q: How are clubs ranked in the EWC Club Championship?
A: Clubs earn points based on performance across multiple games. The club with the most cumulative points at the end wins the Club Championship—sort of like the Olympics of esports.
With more than 25 tournaments, hundreds of top-tier players, and millions of fans tuning in globally, EWC 2025 is shaping up to be the esports event of the year.
Whether you're a die-hard follower of a specific game or just want to watch the biggest titles in action, this schedule gives you everything you need to plan your viewing calendar.
And to always play with your max performance, use NoPing! Download now and start your free trial!
