You, a joystick, and an opponent staring you down—Street Fighter has always been about pure, unfiltered competition. And now, thanks to a new partnership, that competition is about to get even bigger.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Capcom have struck a multi-year deal that folds the Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League directly into the Esports World Cup (EWC) for the next three years. Translation? The best Street Fighter 6 players from around the globe now have a clear path to Riyadh, where they’ll battle it out on one of esports’ grandest stages.

How to Get to the EWC? Win. A Lot.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to compete at the highest level, here’s the roadmap. The top eight players from CAPCOM CUP 11 and 12 players from the Street Fighter League: World Championship (Japan, the U.S., and Europe) will secure direct spots at the EWC 2025 Street Fighter 6 Finals. Another 10 slots are up for grabs through the Capcom Pro Tour 2025, which includes iconic tournaments like Evo Japan, Evo Vegas, CPT Combo Breaker, Blink Respawn, and CPT CEO.

Still not enough? There’s hope yet—an additional batch of slots will be awarded through various pro and grassroots Street Fighter 6 tournaments worldwide, including a Last Chance Qualifier in August 2025. When the dust settles, 48 of the world’s best will take the stage in Riyadh.

More Than Just a Game—It’s a Legacy

This partnership isn’t just about making the Street Fighter competitive scene bigger—it’s about making it better. Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer at EWCF, put it best:

“Street Fighter has been at the heart of competitive gaming for decades. It’s a pure test of individual skill—just you against your opponent. Together with Capcom, we’re unifying the competitive ecosystem and ensuring the best players have a clear path to the biggest stage.”

Capcom Producer Shuhei Matsumoto echoed the sentiment, emphasizing how Street Fighter 6 has already cemented itself in esports, with its high-octane action and dramatic moments making it one of the most exciting games to watch.

EWC 2025: The Biggest Show in Esports

Last year, Street Fighter 6 made history as the first fighting game to be included in the EWC. That debut saw 32 top players clash in a tournament that pulled in over six million viewers, culminating in a dominant victory for Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun and a hefty slice of the US$1,000,000 prize pool.

EWC 2025 promises to be even bigger, bringing together esports’ best teams, players, and games under one banner. And with Street Fighter 6 now firmly integrated into the system, the road to Riyadh has never been clearer—or more brutal.

So, whether you’re a pro looking to claim your spot or a fan ready to witness the world’s best throw hands (virtually), one thing’s certain: the next three years are going to be legendary.