India’s Esports Giants Take the Global Stage: S8UL and GodLike Secure Million-Dollar Backing for EWC 2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has officially announced its roster of 40 elite organizations for the 2026 Club Partner Program, and two massive names from South Asia are front and center. S8UL and GodLike Esports have been selected to represent India in a highly exclusive initiative designed to drive sustainable growth and foster a connected competitive gaming ecosystem.
This year’s iteration of the program features an impressive $20 million (approximately INR 189 crore) annual budget, offering participating clubs up to $1 million (INR 9.4 crore) in funding. The financial backing provides teams with strategic support to expand their branding, scale their competitive operations, and grow their international audiences leading into the highly anticipated Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Riyadh.
A Major Milestone for South Asian Competitive Gaming
Since launching in 2023, the Club Partner Program has injected over $100 million into participating organizations, enabling teams to build compelling narratives around their talent and deliver high-impact marketing initiatives. Last year alone, the selected clubs drove more than 330 million campaign views, engaging upward of 10 million fans through original content, global watch parties, and digital activations.
The inclusion of both S8UL and GodLike points to the rapidly growing prominence of the Indian market. While North America, Europe, and South Korea have traditionally dominated the global esports conversation, Indian organizations are aggressively closing the gap through sheer viewership volume and fiercely dedicated fanbases.
S8UL Returns to Build on a Historic 2025 Run
S8UL made history last year as the very first Indian organization accepted into the Club Partner Program. The Mumbai-based powerhouse maximized that opportunity, fielding competitors at EWC 2025 across Apex Legends, Chess, and EA FC. Beyond the servers, S8UL spearheaded massive fan engagement efforts, hosting watch parties across 12 Indian cities and transforming their state-of-the-art gaming house into a dedicated hub for fans to follow the global tournament.
Now competing in 10 different titles—ranging from Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and VALORANT to Pokémon GO—S8UL is looking to amplify its international footprint even further.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, outlined the organization’s vision for the upcoming season:
“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. Last year gave us the opportunity to showcase our competitive strength and the power of our community on a global stage. 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 Esports Makes a Highly Anticipated Debut
Joining S8UL in the 2026 cohort is GodLike Esports, making its first-ever appearance in the Club Partner Program. Known for its sheer dominance in mobile esports and a massive following that generates over 150 million monthly views, GodLike operates at the intersection of competitive play and mainstream entertainment culture in India.
By stepping onto the EWC stage, GodLike is officially entering a new phase of global expansion. The organization aims to leverage the program’s strategic funding to build multi-title rosters and introduce its players to an international audience.
Chetan Sanjay Chandgude, CEO and Founder of GodLike Esports, emphasized the cultural significance of this selection:
“For us, this is a defining moment, not just as a team but as a community that has grown with Indian esports. GodLike has always been built on the strength of its fans, and this platform allows us to take that energy global. 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. We are excited to represent India on the world stage.”
Looking Ahead to the Record-Breaking EWC 2026
Both Indian clubs will activate numerous fan-centric campaigns throughout the year, featuring creator collaborations, live experiences, and community events to hype up the upcoming tournament.
The Esports World Cup 2026 is scheduled to run from July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh, promising an unprecedented $75 million (INR 710 crore) prize pool. The massive summer event will host over 2,000 players from more than 100 countries, competing across 24 different game titles. The intense Club Championship format will award $30 million to the top-performing organizations, rewarding groups that achieve multi-title excellence.
Hans Jagnow, Director of Clubs, National Teams and Players Relations at the Esports Foundation, noted the strategic expansion into emerging regions:
“The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program reaches fans globally and changes the way they experience esports,” said Jagnow. “Over the past editions, it has created a platform for Clubs to strengthen their brands and engage with audiences, and we’re seeing the results of that in the impact it delivers. With new clubs joining alongside established names in 2026, the program continues to expand in high-growth markets such as Latin America, India, Turkey, and South-East Asia, enhancing the global character of the ecosystem.”
With S8UL and GodLike firmly cemented in this elite global network, Indian esports fans have plenty to look forward to as the countdown to Riyadh officially begins.
