Riot Announces Partnership with Esports World Cup

Riot’s biggest esports titles will be joining the Esports World Cup for the next three years. This partnership includes League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant esports. 

“The feedback we got from players and teams who participated last year was positive. The event’s significant prize pool offered crucial financial support for them, providing stability at a time when many esports organizations were working toward a stronger future,” Riot explained, providing context for the partnership. 

Financial terms were not publicly revealed, but Riot made it evident that the potential sponsors are a big reason for this pivot in their esports ecosystem. 

“Esports has always been about more than just organizing tournaments. It’s about building something bigger: ecosystems that give pro players and teams opportunities to thrive while putting a spotlight on the best players in the world.

“And that requires a significant amount of investment. Support from sponsors and licensing allows us to continue investing at that high level – not only to sustain esports, but to keep evolving to make sure it remains exciting, competitive, and rewarding for years to come.”

The Esport World Cup Foundation holds the Esports World Cup tournament every summer – sponsored by Saudi’s government’s sovereign wealth fund, also known as the Public Investment Fund. Partnering with Riot lessens the burden on Riot to create a sustainable esport by placing part of the responsibility onto a third party organization. 

Riot’s goals for the partnership are to “create meaningful opportunities for pros and teams, deliver unforgettable experiences to players around the world, and carefully navigate the complexities that come with operating on a global stage.”

The 2024 League of Legends World Finals reportedly attracted 6.9 million cumulative viewers, solidifying its status as the most popular esport in history. In 2022, League of Legends reportedly earned $1.8 billion in revenue.