The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the tournament organiser behind the Esports World Cup, has announced a multi-year partnership agreement with the Call of Duty League.
The deal will see EWCF commit to the growth of Call of Duty’s esports ecosystem for the upcoming three years. This includes the league extending its 2025 competitive calendar into August for the Esports World Cup, which makes its return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next summer.
Financial terms surrounding the partnership were not disclosed.
The Esports World Cup previously announced that both Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops would be included in its 2025 game lineup.
The latter will replace Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which saw Atlanta FaZe walk out victorious. Alongside the other 15 participating teams, the Call of Duty: MW3 tournament offered a combined prize pool of $1.8m (~£1,41m). Call of Duty: Warzone, instead, featured a $1m (~£0,78m) prize pool, with Team Falcons coming out victorious.
In 2024, Call of Duty was the last franchise to be featured in the Esports World Cup, increasing the total number of events to 22. Other titles at this year’s event included Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and Honor of Kings, which has also been confirmed for the 2025 edition.
Despite the prize pool and incredibly competitive environment, the EWC has generated controversy from sections of the esports industry due to the support of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. The Kingdom has been heavily investing in esports as it looks to become a hub for the industry, but discussions surrounding its human rights record remain.
Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation, commented on the deal: “Call of Duty is one of the most celebrated games on the planet and has captivated global communities for generations.
“Together, we are creating new opportunities for players, from grassroots to elite competitors, to rise through the ranks and compete on the world’s biggest stage. As we continue to grow the largest-ever celebration of esports excellence, we look forward to welcoming all players into a life-changing global event, one that connects players, games, fans, and the entire esports industry under one banner.”
