RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation and Electronic Arts have confirmed that the Apex Legends Global Series Midseason Playoffs and the FC Pro World Championship for EA SPORTS FC 25 will take place this summer at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.
The addition of two of EA’s most prestigious competitive circuits further elevates the Esports World Cup’s standing as a premier global platform for elite esports. Both tournaments have previously headlined packed arenas and now join a growing lineup that continues to attract the industry’s most influential titles and top-tier talent.
Apex Legends returns to Riyadh after a successful 2024 debut that featured a dramatic 13-game final in which 12 teams were still in contention for the title. The 2025 ALGS Midseason Playoffs will run from July 10-13, bringing 40 of the world’s best squads to compete for a $2 million prize pool.
The event opens with Pool Play on July 10 and 11, dividing teams into two groups of 20 for 10 matches. The top seven from each group will advance directly to the Match Point Finals on July 13. Teams ranked eighth to 17th will battle for the final six spots through the Last Chance Semifinals on July 12.
The tournament winner will take home $600,000 and earn 1,000 valuable ALGS Championship Points toward year-end qualification.
The FC Pro World Championship will be staged from Aug. 7-10, featuring the best EA SPORTS FC players competing for a $1.5 million prize pool. A Last Chance Qualifier will precede the main event from July 31 to Aug. 3, offering 512 participants a final shot at reaching the Play-Ins. From there, 48 players will contend for the last four spots in the championship.
The Group Stage begins Aug. 7, with 32 players advancing into playoff action on Aug. 9. The tournament concludes on Aug. 10 with the quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place match and the grand final. The eventual champion will claim $250,000.
The return of the Last Chance Qualifier follows one of the most memorable stories from EWC 2024, when Joao “jafonsogv” Vasconcelos made an incredible run from qualifier to champion.
With more than 500 players expected to take part in this year’s LCQ, the stakes are higher than ever. Among the returning stars will be defending champion Anders Vejrgang, who headlines a field representing some of the world’s most prominent football and esports clubs.
“The ALGS and FC Pro are two of the most competitive and globally recognized circuits in esports,” said Fabian Scheuermann, chief games officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Together with EA, we’re opening doors for players at every level — from grassroots to elite — to compete on the world’s biggest stage. We’re looking forward to football and esports clubs coming together at the Esports World Cup through FC Pro, and excited to bring ALGS to Riyadh after the incredible response last year. This is the future of esports as a global sport — and we’re just getting started.”
The 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup will bring together 2,000 top players and 200 clubs from more than 100 countries. More than 25 tournaments will be contested across 24 different games, with a combined prize pool exceeding $70 million — the largest in esports history.
