The Esports World Cup Foundation and Call of Duty League have established a three-year collaboration, confirming CoD as a featured title at the tournament hosted in Saudi Arabia. Recommended Videos The Esports World Cup referred to the partnership as “a pivotal aspect of EWCF’s dedication to fostering the sustainable development of esports as a worldwide […]
The Esports World Cup Foundation and Call of Duty League have established a three-year collaboration, confirming CoD as a featured title at the tournament hosted in Saudi Arabia.
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The Esports World Cup referred to the partnership as “a pivotal aspect of EWCF’s dedication to fostering the sustainable development of esports as a worldwide sport and will enhance the professional tier of the Call of Duty esports ecosystem,” although many view Saudi Arabia’s engagement in esports with disfavor.
The Esports World Cup and its association with funding and execution in Saudi Arabia have faced criticism numerous times previously, primarily due to the nation’s stance on homosexuality—it is prohibited to engage in same-sex relations there. Additionally, there are frequent occurrences of violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals, which was a major factor contributing to FGC legend SonicFox’s absence from the event last year.
Fabian Scheuermann, chief gaming officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation, remarked that the EWC is “a transformative global event, one that unites players, games, fans, and the entire esports community under one banner,” as long as that banner excludes gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals.
In the previous year, Atlanta FaZe triumphed in a 16-team competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, outshining 10 other professional teams and five qualifiers. A Call of Duty: Warzone competition also occurred and is expected to continue as part of the collaboration.
“The Call of Duty League is excited to partner with the Esports World Cup to promote the ongoing expansion of competitive Call of Duty,” stated Daniel Tsay, General Manager of Call of Duty Esports. “Our professional players and associated organizations thoroughly enjoyed competing during last year’s EWC tournament and demonstrated how thrilling and exciting pro-am style competition can be. This partnership offers our players, community, and fans even more chances to experience high-quality competitive Call of Duty in the coming years.”
The underlying hope seems to be that the frequent journeys to Riyadh will not alienate a segment of the esports audience.
The CDL Championship Weekend is yet to be officially confirmed but is anticipated to occur around June, similar to last season. The Esports World Cup, which will also include competitions in various other games, is likely to kick off shortly thereafter.
