Karmine Corp Returns to Esports World Cup Club Partner Program

Karmine Corp has been reinstated into the $20 million Esports World Cup Club Partner Program (CPP).

This initiative gives up to $1m each to 40 clubs to support select esports organisations in expanding their brands and audiences before the Esports World Cup 2026.

Initially, Karmine Corp missed out on the Esports World Cup Partner Program, having been a part of it the previous year.

The organisation was a surpirse omission alongside the likes of FaZe Clan, Movistar KOI, and LOUD.

KCorp’s former CEO, Arthur Pericoz, predicted missing out on the CPP would cost the organisation around $200-300k compared to 2025.

However, a slot was freed up after Heroic was stripped of EWC Partner status following the organisation’s withdrawal from Dota 2.

With no Dota squad, Heroic no longer met the EWC two-title requirement for the initiative.

Following recent internal organizational changes, HEROIC no longer meets the requirements for, and therefore have agreed to exit the 2026 EF Club Partner Program.

We thank HEROIC for its contribution to the Club Partner Program and the wider EWC ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/rQjlONnaOR

— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) May 15, 2026

Why The Esports World Cup Foundation Chose Karmine Corp

According to RFT.gg, a news site that KCorp founder Kamel ‘Kameto’ Kebir has shares in, KCorp missed out on the CPP initially because of its limited competitive presence and French-speaking focus.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) wanted to diversify the program to other regions, and KC only competed in Rocket League and Valorant at last year’s EWC.

Also, the organisation’s “optimised” management of the CPP’s financial resources went heavily against their application, according to RFT.

However, KCorp’s French footprint has now become a positive for the EWCF, as the Esports World Cup 2026 is reportedly moving to Paris.

The event appears to be forced to move from Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

And KCorp has a very passionate French-speaking fan base, having recently hosted an LEC Roadtrip on the outskirts of the French capital.

KCorp just continuing to be the best at harnesses a local fanbase to its fullest potential

In a world where every other roadtrip has us wondering about Fridays, arena size, and beyond

KC just does it right #LEC pic.twitter.com/6VbvPNzoTn

— ShyKnock (@DShyKnock) April 24, 2026

KCorp won last year’s Rocket League tournament at EWC, automatically qualifying the organisation for this year’s iteration.

And KCorp’s LoL team has also qualified for EWC 2026 after defeating MKOI in the EMEA LoL Qualifiers.

What do you make of KCorp being reinstated into the EWC CPP? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.

And in more EWCF news, KeSPA and South Korea have agreed to compete at the Esports Nations Cup after an initial disagreement.

Why The Esports World Cup Foundation Chose Karmine Corp

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