Team Secret secured their spot in the Esports Foundation Club Partner Program ahead of the Esports World Cup.
The 2026 Esports Foundation Club Partner Program brings their number up to 40 as Team Secret joins the world’s leading esports organizations. This is part of the Esports Foundation’s global initiative of building and supporting a connected and sustainable esports ecosystem.
Since its launch in 2023, the Esports Foundation Club Partner Program has invested more than 100 million USD into Clubs across the Club Partner Program and Club Championship. Participating clubs are provided with funding of up to $1 million alongside strategic support and international exposure. This helps them grow their brands and audiences through marketing and storytelling, showcasing the personalities and journeys of their players.
All of this leads up to the 2026 Esports World Cup. Teams under the Esports Foundation Club Program have a chance to claim the lion’s share of the 30 million USD prize pool. They’ll also have access to initiatives including content creation, collaborations, fan campaigns, watch parties, and community events.
Building Up the Esports Ecosystem
“[The Esports World Cup] is not just a tournament for us,” said John Yao, Team Secret CEO. “It’s a part of the fabric of everything that we do. From strategic planning to team expansions and even to how we think about merchandising. We are honored and grateful to be able to continue our EWC legacy this year and help build the ecosystem together with the Foundation and rest of the Partnered Clubs.”
“The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program reaches fans globally and changes the way they experience esports,” said Hans Jagnow, Director, Clubs, National Teams and Players Relations at the Esports Foundation.
“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 Southeast Asia, enhancing the global character of the ecosystem.”
These 40 teams and more are set to clash at the 2026 Esports World Cup in Riyadh later this year. Clubs will be competing across 24 different esports titles across two months. At the end of it all, the top performer across all 24 titles wins the Club Championship.
Banner image credit: Esports World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program is a global initiative designed to build a sustainable competitive ecosystem. It provides selected partner clubs with financial grants, strategic support, and marketing resources to help them scale their brands and engage global audiences.
A total of 40 elite esports organizations have secured spots in the partner program for 2026. This includes newly integrated organizations like Team Secret alongside other top-tier brands expanding into high-growth regions like Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America.
Participating clubs receive up to $1 million in annual funding. This capital is paired with strategic opportunities, content creation support, and marketing initiatives to directly assist organizations with operations, player development, and brand storytelling.
The 2026 Esports World Cup features a massive $30 million prize pool dedicated specifically to the Club Championship. The club that achieves the best overall competitive performance across 24 distinct gaming titles over the two-month tournament will take home the top prize.
Team Secret is a multi-gaming organization that historically fields competitive rosters across high-profile esports titles. Their notable campaigns include winning the Rainbow Six Siege tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup, alongside competing in Dota 2, VALORANT, and PUBG Mobile.
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