TL;DR: The Esports Foundation has officially selected S8UL and GodLike Esports for its 2026 Club Partner Program — a $20 million (INR 189+ crore) initiative supporting 40 elite clubs globally ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh. For the first time ever, India has two clubs in the program simultaneously.
Indian esports just levelled up in the most significant way possible. The Esports Foundation announced on April 1, 2026, that both S8UL Esports and GodLike Esports have been selected for the prestigious 2026 Club Partner Program — joining a global roster of 40 elite clubs representing the biggest names in competitive gaming. It’s a landmark moment: never before has India had two clubs at this table at the same time.
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What Is the Club Partner Program?
Now in its third year, the Club Partner Program is one of the most substantial investment initiatives in esports globally.
| Detail | Figures |
|---|---|
| 2026 Program Fund | $20 million (~INR 189 crore) |
| Funding Per Club | Up to $1 million (~INR 9.4 crore) |
| Total Invested Since 2023 | $100 million+ (~INR 948 crore) |
| Clubs Selected | 40 globally |
| 2025 Campaign Views Delivered | 330 million+ |
| Fans Engaged (2025) | 10 million+ across 370 initiatives |
| Watch Parties Hosted (2025) | 130+ globally |
| EWC 2026 Prize Pool | $75 million (~INR 710 crore) |
| Club Championship Prize | $30 million (~INR 284 crore) |
| EWC 2026 Dates | July 6 – August 23, 2026, Riyadh |
The program establishes a distinctive model for partnership in global sport, enabling clubs to access funding to grow their brands and audiences through marketing and storytelling that showcase the personalities, talent, and journeys of players.
S8UL: Back for a Second Year, Bigger Than Ever
S8UL made history in 2025 as the first Indian organization ever selected for the Club Partner Program. This year, they return with serious momentum. In 2025, S8UL competed at EWC in Apex Legends, Chess, and EA FC, hosted watch parties across 12 cities in India, and transformed their Mumbai gaming house into a dedicated EWC fan hub.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, said: “Being selected for the Esports Foundation’s Club Partner Program for the second consecutive year is a strong validation of what we’re building at S8UL. This year, we want to build on that momentum by going bigger across performance, content, and fan engagement, while continuing to represent India at the highest level of esports.”
GodLike: A Debut That’s Been a Long Time Coming
GodLike Esports — one of India’s most iconic mobile esports brands with a massive fanbase built across BGMI, Free Fire MAX, COD Mobile, and more — enters the Club Partner Program for the first time. Two Indian clubs in the program means double the content, double the fan activations, and significantly more Indian eyeballs on EWC 2026.
Chetan Sanjay Chandgude, CEO and Founder of GodLike Esports, said: “For us, this is a defining moment — not just as a team but as a community that has grown with Indian esports. Through the Club Partner Program, we aim to expand our reach across new markets, tell deeper stories around our players and journey, and create meaningful fan experiences that go beyond competition.”
India’s Growing Global Footprint at EWC
Compared to 2025, the EMEA region lost three slots in the program — those slots were redistributed to Turkey, India (adding GodLike alongside S8UL), and Brazil, reflecting the growing competitive weight of high-growth esports markets.
India contributed 10.5 million viewers to EWC 2025. That number is expected to grow significantly with two clubs now carrying the Indian flag.
The selected 40 clubs collectively reach a combined audience of over 300 million fans worldwide — and India’s share of that is getting bigger every year. The program’s expansion into high-growth markets such as Latin America, India, Turkey, and Southeast Asia reflects the global character of the modern esports ecosystem.
Full List: All 40 Club Partner Program Clubs for 2026
100 Thieves, 9z Globant, All Gamers, Alpha7 Esports, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, Fluxo W7M, Fnatic, FURIA, FUT Esports, G2 Esports, GAM Esports, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, GodLike, HEROIC, JD Gaming, LEVIATAN, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP.eStar, NRG, ONIC, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team Falcons, Team Heretics, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Titan Esports Club, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION.
What’s at Stake at EWC 2026
The Esports World Cup 2026 runs July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh — 25 competitions across 24 titles, with over 2,000 players and 200 clubs from 100+ countries. The $75 million prize pool is the largest in esports history, with $30 million specifically allocated to the Club Championship. Being a Club Partner doesn’t guarantee qualification — S8UL and GodLike must still earn their spots through official competitive pathways.
For more on Indian esports’ rise on the global stage, follow TechnoSports’ gaming and esports coverage.
👉 Official EF Club Partner Program — esportsworldcup.com
Source: Esports Foundation Official Press Release, April 1, 2026 | Esports World Cup | Inside Sport India
