Esports World Cup Foundation Might Rebrand as Esports Foundation

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has officially amended the charter of Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to rebrand it as the Esports Foundation. The decision was unveiled during a Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Feb 17, 2026.

According to Arab News’ reporting, the Cabinet approved “amendments to the basic statute” that will allow EWCF to be renamed as Esports Foundation. However, following the event, EWCF has not officially announced any changes to its branding, as of reporting.

The EWCF was established in September 2023, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s aim to position itself as a global esports hub under its Vision 2030. The organization is funded by the Saudi government’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and works as a non-profit organization, separately from the Saudi Esports Federation.

The Cabinet’s amendment indicates a structural shift for EWCF from a project-specific entity to a potentially broader governance platform. EWCF organizes Esports World Cup (EWC), the largest multi-national esports event, and the recently inaugurated Esports Nations Cup (ENC).

Esports World Cup Foundation, From Tournament Organizer to Institutional Platform

After its inception, EWCF carried the legacy of the Gamers8 event with the EWC circuit, making it more expansive. Since then, the organization has staged tournaments across multiple titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and League of Legends.

While EWCF works as an independent entity, it has partnered with multiple Saudi companies. The partners include major Saudi entities such as Qiddiya, a Saudi real estate project organization; Saudi Telecom Company (stc Group); and Aramco, a majorly state-owned oil company.

Till now, the organization being named as Esports World Cup Foundation was logical, considering it hosts EWC. However, the amendment to rebrand it as the Esports Foundation hints towards EWCF getting a more formalized position in the global esports scenario.

It already manages two major international circuits and aims to provide esports with the same structural support as traditional sports disciplines. By being broadly defined as the Esports Foundation, EWCF could aim to consolidate Saudi Arabia’s influence, while standardizing esports competition frameworks, which for long has been publisher-led.