The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced Monday that it will continue its partnership with Mastercard for another year.
Financial terms of this renewed partnership were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the deal, Mastercard will serve as the “official event supplier” for the 2025 Esports World Cup, which kicked off last week and runs until the end of August (July 7 – Aug. 24), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For the 2025 Esports World Cup, Mastercard will will create a number of on-the-ground activations and provide what EWCF calls “seamless payment solutions, and a collaboration with EWCF and G2 Esports for the Mastercard Gamer Academy, that aims to “provide 10 successful applicants with the opportunity to be mentored by professionals on how they could pursue a career in esports,” according a release.
Fans will also be able to collect “Priceless Points” by visiting the on-site Mastercard booth, which will give them a chance to win a variety of gaming gear. G2 Esports players will also collaborate with Mastercard on fireside chats to talk about being professional esports players, among other things.
In addition to activations and on-site activities, Mastercard branding will appear on local signage, on social media, and in EWC-related content including broadcasts.
“We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we continue to unlock the potential of gaming in the Kingdom,” Mastercard Country Manager Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant Saud Swar, said in a release. “In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Mastercard is committed to connecting people to their passions, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation. Our priceless experiences help empower youth, promote digital inclusion, and celebrate Saudi Arabia’s vibrant esports culture.”
This deal follows announcements earlier this month that the EWCF had partnered with IMG, Spotify, Lenovo, stc Group, Stream Hatchet, and Aramco, among others.
The Esports World Cup is a seven week, multi-title competition hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring an overall prize pool of more than $70 million USD. The competition is funded by a grant from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund and operated in cooperation with ESL FACEIT Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi government-owned gaming and esports company Savvy Games Group. The 2025 edition runs from July 7 – Aug. 24, and will be followed by the business conference, the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC2025), on Aug. 23 – 24, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh.
Projects backed or owned by the Saudi Arabian government such as Esports World Cup are criticized for helping the government engage in “sports washing,” or using various forms of entertainment to cover up its record on human rights, women’s rights, LGTBQ+ rights, military actions in Yemen, and more. These and other criticisms have been highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.