Two Navi Mumbai Esports Clubs Selected for $75 Million Esports World Cup 2026
Two prominent esports clubs based in Navi Mumbai, GodLike and S8UL, have been selected to join the elite Club Partner Programme for the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. The prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place in France from July 6 to August 23, 2026, marking the first time two Mumbai-based organisations will compete among the 40 elite clubs globally.
The EWC 2026 will feature 25 tournaments across various mobile, PC, and console game titles, including EA Sports FC and League of Legends. The event boasts a total prize pool exceeding $75 million, which is equivalent to over Rs 700 crore.
Run by the Esports Foundation, the Club Partner Programme supports 40 of the world's leading esports organisations with funding, international promotion, and strategic support. S8UL enters the programme for a second consecutive year, while GodLike joins for the first time this year, placing both alongside global giants such as T1, Fnatic, and G2.
While S8UL's bootcamp is located in Navi Mumbai, the club has entered qualification pathways across 13 titles for EWC 2026, which is the most ever attempted by an Indian organisation. S8UL has already secured qualification in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, and Honor of Kings. Its Honor of Kings roster is largely home-grown, having qualified by defeating GodLike in the domestic semi-finals.
In contrast, GodLike, which operates out of the Ghanshyam Villa bootcamp in Navi Mumbai, has signed international stars to its roster. These include Switzerland's Nicolas "Chap" H. and Germany's Felix "Flickzy" G. for Fortnite, alongside Dominican Republic's Cristopher "Caba" Rodriguez for Street Fighter 6. These international players will fly directly to Paris for the tournament.
India represents a massive share of the global gaming audience, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the world's gaming population with an estimated 517 million players. However, the country contributes only about 1.1 percent of global gaming revenue. Observers note that the inclusion of GodLike and S8UL in the Club Partner Programme is a significant step toward bridging this gap.
Animesh Agarwal, co-founder of S8UL, noted that the primary challenge for Indian esports is the supporting ecosystem rather than a lack of talent. While 97 percent of Indian gamers play on mobile devices, players often face limitations such as visa delays when trying to compete overseas.
