The Esports Foundation (EF) announced the EWC 2027 Qualifier Program on October 20. Through the initiative, the foundation aims to expand connections between local tournaments and official qualifiers, with the Road to EWC targeting 1.8 million players participating across more than 400 events in 2027.
The Road to EWC is a qualification system that links publisher-led leagues, international tournaments, and regional qualifiers to the Esports World Cup (EWC). The new program introduces a pathway that expands connections with existing competitions as well as a new pathway tailored for local communities.
Under EWC Direct Qualifiers, which connects existing tournaments, organizers operate their competitions directly while maintaining the event's identity and local commercial opportunities. Operating expenses are borne by the tournament organizers, providing players with an official qualification pathway through events that meet EWC and publisher standards.
The newly introduced EWC Satellite Last Chance Qualifiers (Satellite LCQ) is a pathway open to local tournament organizers, national esports federations and associations, internet cafes (PC bangs), universities, esports venues, and gaming festivals. Participating partners can link existing events or host new competitions that maintain their own identity, receiving marketing support from the EF.
Winners of Satellite LCQ events will earn a spot in that title's EWC LCQ held the following summer, where they will compete for a slot in the main EWC event. The EF will provide accommodation and visa support for winners participating in the competition. The initial lineup of game titles includes Chess, Counter-Strike 2, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, and Street Fighter 6, with additional titles to be announced later.
Both qualification pathways will follow publisher requirements and EWC competitive standards. Applicable standards include tournament rulesets, anti-cheat measures, officiating, and result verification.
Applications for the program are currently open on the official EWC website and will close on December 20. Approved events must conclude by June 1, 2027. Details regarding Direct Qualifier partners, participating tournaments, and qualification slots per game title will be announced sequentially in line with the progress of Road to EWC 2027.
Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of EF, said, “Road to EWC has shown what is possible when the different pathways across competitive esports connect to one global destination. There are great tournaments and strong esports communities in every part of the world. By bringing more of them into Road to EWC, we can create more opportunities for players to compete in their own communities and give local esports ecosystems an official role in building the pathway to the Esports World Cup.”
