Saudi Arabia is once again in the global spotlight as it hosts the Esports World Cup 2025 — the world’s largest esports event, set to deliver an unprecedented scale of live coverage and international engagement. Running from July 8 to August 24 in Riyadh, the tournament is cementing Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation not only as a leader in esports, but also as a premier destination for large-scale international events.
This year’s edition is breaking every previous record, with more than 7,000 hours of live programming across streaming, broadcast, and OTT platforms, distributed by over 90 media partners to fans in 140 countries and in 35 languages. Global heavyweights including FOX Sports, DAZN, Eurosport, ITV, Douyin and NAVER are among those bringing the competition into homes worldwide.
“The scale of the Esports World Cup 2025 is next-level big,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With over 7,000 hours of live programming distributed to more than 140 countries, we’re making esports more accessible and culturally resonant for audiences everywhere. This global reach is fueling sustainable growth for esports, thanks to our partnerships with game publishers, clubs, media platforms, and a passionate community. Together, we’re shaping esports into a mainstream, culturally significant, and economically viable global sport for generations to come.
This year, the Esports World Cup Foundation has partnered with global sports marketing agency IMG to elevate the broadcast coverage and reach new global audiences for the event. With the agreement, an action-packed two-hour show, ‘EWC Spotlight,’ that will be produced live Friday through Sunday every Championship weekend from a custom-built studio in the heart of Boulevard City, Riyadh.
EWC Spotlight will blend esports highlights, entertainment and pop culture features, behind-the-scenes access, celebrity appearances, educational segments and unforgettable moments with world-class broadcasting, giving viewers worldwide an immersive, all-access experience with esports’ most compelling event.
Why it matters for Saudi Arabia — and for tourism
The Esports World Cup isn’t just about gaming glory. It is also a critical part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to diversify its economy under Vision 2030 by establishing the Kingdom as a global hub for sports, entertainment, and tourism.
Major events like this drive substantial tourism demand. Thousands of players, team officials, production crew and fans from more than 100 countries are in Riyadh this summer, staying in local hotels, exploring Saudi attractions, and sharing their experiences across social media — providing invaluable exposure to Saudi Arabia’s growing leisure and hospitality offering.
Hosting the world’s largest esports event also aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s investment in building a more vibrant society. It encourages youth engagement, positions Riyadh as a dynamic capital ready for mega-events, and accelerates infrastructure development — from venues and hotels to tech ecosystems that support such massive productions.
Unprecedented scale and cutting-edge production
The figures behind the EWC 2025 tell the story of an event pushing the very limits of what’s possible in live entertainment. Spread across four world-class arenas, 14 production studios, and 26 unique broadcast spaces, the event is supported by a team of over 550 broadcast operations staff and 300 on-site crew members.
Highlights include:
- 7,000+ hours of live coverage (up 55% from 2024) — the most in esports history, second only to the largest global sporting events
- 175 cameras, 2,600 lighting fixtures, and 3,000 square meters of LED screens — brighter than New Year’s Eve in Times Square
- Coverage delivered to 140 countries, in 35 languages, by 90+ broadcast partners
Every play, highlight, and behind-the-scenes moment is being captured, with a dedicated digital-first model that leverages co-streaming and influencers, ensuring EWC content reaches younger, highly engaged audiences on platforms like Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.
A tournament unlike any other
The Esports World Cup’s unique cross-game format means that over 2,000 elite players and 200 top Clubs from more than 100 nations are competing across 25 tournaments in 24 games, for a staggering $70+ million prize pool — the largest in esports history. It’s a format that rewards both individual game excellence and overall club performance, truly crowning the best in the world.
Following the huge success of the 2024 edition — which reached 500 million viewers, generated 3.5 billion impressions, and delivered an estimated $1.2 billion in media value — EWC 2025 is positioned to shatter records once again and reinforce esports’ standing alongside the world’s biggest traditional sports.
Looking ahead: building the future of sport and tourism together
Saudi Arabia’s ability to host an event of this magnitude underscores how rapidly the Kingdom has developed world-class infrastructure and expertise to stage global spectacles — from Formula 1 and LIV Golf to now the most ambitious esports tournament ever seen.
For the tourism sector, this means more than just hotel nights. It brings global attention, drives year-round interest, and cements Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a destination for both cutting-edge events and authentic cultural experiences — key to achieving its goals under Vision 2030.
For details on match schedules and live broadcasts, visit esportsworldcup.com.
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