Prepare for an exciting summer in Riyadh with the Esports World Cup (EWC) from Thursday, July 4, 2024, to Saturday, August 24, 2024. This event will be the greatest ever in competitive gaming, featuring 19 games, from classics like Dota 2 and League of Legends to new hits like TEKKEN 8 and EA Sports FC 24, and a $60 million+ prize pool. 

Find out which games to watch, top players to follow, and how to see all the action live or online. Whether you’re an esports fan or new to the scene, our guide ensures you won’t miss a moment. 

Let’s get started!

The Best Games Showing at the Esports World Cup

What a time to be alive! The Esports World Cup 2024 in Riyadh will feature 19 games, each with a standalone title. These games include Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 24, Fortnite, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG Battlegrounds, PUBG MOBILE, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, RENNSPORT, Rocket League, StarCraft II, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, and TEKKEN 8.

However, which title should you expect to deliver the most thrilling competition? We mean games where every match is of peak entertainment value as the best of the best clash. Here are our top picks to deliver this experience. 

Dota 2

The #RiyadhMasters return in 2024! Last year’s event at Gamers8 drew an impressive viewership, and the Dota 2 community is even more excited this year. The Esports World Cup will feature 20 elite Dota 2 teams, with participants qualifying based on points earned in the 2024 ESL Pro Tour (EPT) season and regional qualifiers, making the competition fierce.

Already announced teams include Team Liquid, Team Falcons, and BetBoom Team. With a $5,000,000 prize pool, expect to see unique character abilities and styles in action.

League of Legends

Few games can claim to match the popularity of LoL in the esports world, so it’s no surprise that this genre-defining juggernaut is going to grace Riyardh’s grounds come August. It leads the viewership charts, too, with almost 3 million peak viewers during the Mid-Season International 2024

Although Riot Games, LoL developers, have stated they won’t be directly involved in the Esports World Cup, LoL is still expected to deliver its usual excitement, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Tekken 8

After releasing its 8th series in January, Tekken has cemented its place as the video game with the longest-running storyline. At the EWC 2024, this Japanese fighting game promises to captivate the audience with its anime-like visual styles.

The top four players from EVO Japan 2024—Thy Chikurin, DRX Lowhigh, DRX Chanel, and Mangja—received automatic entry. The qualifying slots include the top eight players from DreamHack Dallas in the USA and DreamHack Summer in Sweden.

EA Sports FC 24

The upcoming Esports World Cup will be the most prominent esports outing for EA since parting ways with the international football governing body, FIFA. This showdown is set for August 15th – 18th. It will feature a total prize pool of $1,000,000.

PHzin, the South American player who emerged champion of the FC Pro Open on February 3, has been invited to the World Cup. He’ll share the stage alongside other star players like Marrkk11 (Oceania), Nathansr22 (South America), and WebNasri (Asia).

Fortnite

Fortnite continues to dominate the esports scene with its dynamic gameplay and massive global following. At the Esports World Cup 2024, Fortnite is set to be one of the highlights, bringing together the best players worldwide to compete for glory and a share of the impressive prize pool.

Expect fast-paced, high-intensity battles as players utilize their building skills, strategic thinking, and quick reflexes to outlast their opponents. The unique survival elements and creative building mechanics make Fortnite a crowd favorite, ensuring edge-of-your-seat excitement throughout the tournament.

Some top players to watch include Bugha, the reigning World Cup champion, who has consistently showcased his exceptional skills and strategic mastery. Alongside him, look out for other prominent players like Clix, Benjyfishy, and Mongraal, known for their innovative playstyles and competitive spirit.

PUBG Mobile

Mobile games are vital to a tournament this big. Top mobile games like Free Fire, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang are included in the EWC tournament. However, PUBG Mobile stands out with over 100 million players worldwide.

Twenty-eight teams from regional leagues will qualify for the $3 million tournament. PUBG Mobile was one of the first games to join the Esports World Cup 2024 lineup.

Best Players at the Esports World Cup

Over 2,500 players will compete for prizes at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 4 to August 24, 2024. The organizers have also listed 30 top esports teams to appear at Boulevard Riyadh City. So, expect to see the biggest names in gaming turn up to deliver their best showing yet for a slice of that massive $60 million+ price pool. 

Look out for the following gamers in Riyadh.

Ana

One of the most prominent players confirmed to participate in the tournament is T1’s Ana. Ana is a Dota 2 player with over $6 million in career winnings. He has won multiple world championships and is expected to light up the Esports World Cup with his elite skills.

Faker

Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok is another top player confirmed to compete at the Esports World Cup. Widely considered the best League of Legends player of all time, Faker’s four World Championship wins are the highlights of a highly decorated career. He would compete at the Esports World Cup under the umbrella of his team, T1.

Arslan Ash

Arslan Ash, the four-time EVO winner and winner of the Tekken World Finals 2023, will also be competing for the grand prize at the World Cup. He’s one of the most prominent names in Tekken and is one to look out for at the tourney. Arslan Ash is a member of the Twisted Minds team and would be an essential asset to the team’s exploits at the World Cup.

Clement “Clem” Deplanches

Team Liquid’s Clement “Clem” Deplanches is one of the most exciting names of the StarCraft II tournament at the World Cup. He made a name for himself by winning the ESL Masters Winter 2023 after establishing himself as a top regional contender in Europe. Clem will bring his expertise to the World Cup and thrill fans as he competes for the grand prize.

Other top players from different games and esports teams will also compete at the Esports World Cup. These include Danil “Donk” Kryshkovets of Team Spirit, Xmithie and Twistz of Team Liquid, and many others. All these players will aim for the grand prize at the event.

How to Watch the Esports World Cup

Are you looking to watch the Esports World Cup this summer? Read on!

Where to Watch the Esports World Cup

The event will be held offline and can be watched live from the stands in Riyadh. If you’re interested in attending the festival, look out for news and announcements concerning the purchase of tickets.

The EWC will kick off on July 3, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This inaugural edition of the tournament will run for eight weeks, ending on August 25. The city will be open to the general public, not just gamers.

Riyadh aims to provide a borderless ground for massive viewership, offering multiple entertainment options to create a fully immersive experience for every fan. Parents can relax and enjoy the music while their kids have fun with interactive games and learning experiences.

How to Stream the Esports World Cup

For each of the eight weeks of the tournament, the EWC already has a schedule for a particular set of games. For instance, the first week (starting July 3) is marked for League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, TBA, and some Dota 2.

All tournament games will be streamed across all major streaming platforms worldwide. Twitch, YouTube, and Huya are some of the confirmed platforms. You can check out the Esports World Cup YouTube channel, which already has about 65K followers.

Moreover, the Esports World Cup organizers promise to provide the coverage necessary for all fans worldwide to watch the tournament. They’ll support more than 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, and others.

How to Participate in the Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup is less than two months away, and excitement abounds in the build-up to the largest esports tournament. Top Esports teams will participate and battle for the prestigious crown of the best in the world. However, qualifying for the tourney if you’re not a top esports pro is a hard nut to crack.

Invitational Slots at the Esports World Cup

Many of the slots at the tournament are invitational; the organizers will invite exceptional players to compete. Others are from the best competitions in the various games. For instance, seven of the competitors in the Overwatch tournament at the World Cup would be from the Overwatch Championship Series and another eight from the FACEIT Master leagues.

Similar selection metrics apply to games like Street Fighter, Apex Legends, and Tekken. However, DOTA 2 players would be selected based on their standings in the EPT Interregional rankings and DreamLeague and ESL One tournament performances. Competitors for the CS: GO tournament are also chosen based on their standings in the ESL world rankings.

Qualification Slots at the Esports World Cup

It’s important to note that regional qualifiers also apply to some titles. PUBG esports recently announced that it would hold qualifiers for gamers in the EMEA region, and anyone can enter. Teams that top the qualifiers will get a ticket to compete at the World Cup.

Many top teams have entered the tournament already, including Team Spirit, Liquid Gaming, Natus Vincere, Crazy Racoon, From The Gamer, Team Falcons, and YETI. These teams will compete in 19 different games for a share in the lucrative $60 million prize pool. Teams will receive points will based on the performances of individual team members in all events. Afterward, the team with the most points at the end of the eight-week World Cup will be declared the “best esports team in the world.”

None-Gamers Participating in the Esports World Cup

If you’re not gaming, you can participate in the Esports World Cup by being a fan and following up the intense action. Alternatively, you can take up reporting or volunteer roles to aid the success of one of the biggest tournaments esports has ever seen.

The Esports World Cup Is in the History Books

Later this summer, the Esports World Cup will break and set records. This is the first time in esports history that a World Cup will be organized. Again, at a whopping $60 million, this is the largest total prize pool in any gaming tournament to date. GAMERS8—a global esports and gaming festival also held in Saudi Arabia, set the previous record of $45 million 2023.

The twist is that the Esports World Cup is an evolution of GAMERS8. Official sources state that the Esports World Cup will be in charge of all GAMERS8 channels, websites, and social media accounts.

Now, let’s move on to answer the most pressing question. Which team will be crowned the world’s first Esports World Cup Club Champions? Let us know what you think in the comment section.