Esports Foundation (EF) has announced the opening of applications for its Creator Program 2026. The organization has allocated a $2 million budget to support and reward influencers who will co-stream Esports World Cup 2026 and Esports Nations Cup 2026 events.
The program will cover two major tournaments this year:
- Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, taking place in Paris from July 6 to August 23;
- Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, which will be held for the first time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November.
The initiative is a key component of the organization’s long-term media strategy. Its goal is to expand the decentralized broadcasting network to more than 5,000 officially approved content creators worldwide. Organizers are scaling up last year’s model, which saw 3,500 independent co-streamers participate during the 2025 season to reach audiences across different languages and regions.
Approved creators on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK will receive direct access to official match feeds, dedicated tools, and promotional support. Participation will be managed through a gamified “Battle Pass” system and leaderboard. By completing tournament-related missions, creators will be able to unlock rewards including technical equipment, gift cards, stream enhancement tools, and even physical invitations to events for themselves and their communities.
It is worth noting that FIFA and 2K recently failed to reach an agreement on the development of a new football simulation game.