
Cristiano Ronaldo Joins 2025 Esports World Cup as Global Ambassador
Set to take place in Riyadh, the tournament will host over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries.
Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been announced as the global ambassador for the 2025 Esports World Cup, which will be held in Riyadh from July 8th to August 24th. The tournament is set to be the largest in esports history, featuring more than 2,000 professional players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries, with a record-breaking prize pool of USD 70 million.
The competition will span 25 titles, including popular competitive games such as CrossFire, Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, Valorant and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (where Ronaldo himself happens to be a playable character).
As ambassador, Ronaldo will lead the tournament's global campaign, leveraging his social media following of over 850 million to spotlight the event and support the continued rise of Saudi Arabia's esports ecosystem on the world stage.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CAF
5 days ago
- CAF
CAF launches CAF IMPACT Programme to promote sound financial Governance, Youth Competitions and Community Outreach with Member Associations
Published: Tuesday, 17 June 2025 The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially launched, at the Executive Committee meeting on 26 April 2026, the CAF IMPACT programme, a strategic initiative aimed at further improving transparency and accountability, in the use of funds made available to CAF Member Associations and Zonal Unions for the development of football with the aim of ensuring the sustainable development and enhanced competitiveness of African football at a global level. The programme will be governed by a dedicated set of Regulations, the CAF IMPACT Regulations, which will oversee and regulate the use of funds by Member Associations. This move marks a significant step towards ensuring that financial resources are managed with integrity and purpose. The CAF IMPACT Programme is designed to empower Member Associations by strengthening financial governance, fostering the growth of youth competitions, supporting football development and expanding on impactful community outreach initiatives. The programme and its regulations are uniquely tailored to meet Africa's specific challenges and opportunities empowering Member Associations, inspiring youth, and building a football future rooted in excellence and inclusion. The CAF IMPACT Programme can be broken down into three major objectives: Invest in the growth and development of CAF's Member Associations by providing resources and infrastructure to nurture football talent in their countries. Promote positive impact by driving gender inclusion, youth development and community outreach that shapes the future of African football. Encourage and support good governance, transparency and accountability to ensure that African football's development is managed responsibly, ethically and sustainably. CAF Member Associations will receive up to USD 1.6 million over four years—a 60% increase from the previous cycle. These funds are intended to support: Women's football; Football development and youth competitions; School football programmes; Operational costs; Training, especially for coaches and referees. In addition, USD 500,000 in performance-based incentives will be available over four years for each Member Association. These will be awarded to Member Associations that have met certain criteria in key areas such as:: Participation in the five (5) competitions of the zonal unions; The implementation of safeguarding policies The organization of the CAF African Schools Football Championship at national level Launching initiatives to ensure compliance with applicable regulations (compliance and integrity). Training sanctioned by a diploma of a certain number of women coaches. All funds will be managed through dedicated CAF IMPACT Programme accounts and subject to oversight by independent auditors to ensure transparency and accountability. 'CAF and its President are ensuring that every dollar invested is used to develop African football. That means development with a special focus on Women's Football and the Youth. With the CAF IMPACT Programme, a minimum of 50% of the subvention to Member Associations must be spent in these two areas. We are shaping the future of African football, creating opportunities for every nation, every region and every girl and boy on the continent. We are accelerating development to make African football globally competitive and self-sustaining, with a shared vision for Africa's future,' said CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba. Further Inquiries: communications@ CAF | Communication Department


CairoScene
7 days ago
- CairoScene
Cristiano Ronaldo Joins 2025 Esports World Cup as Global Ambassador
Set to take place in Riyadh, the tournament will host over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries. Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been announced as the global ambassador for the 2025 Esports World Cup, which will be held in Riyadh from July 8th to August 24th. The tournament is set to be the largest in esports history, featuring more than 2,000 professional players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries, with a record-breaking prize pool of USD 70 million. The competition will span 25 titles, including popular competitive games such as CrossFire, Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, Valorant and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (where Ronaldo himself happens to be a playable character). As ambassador, Ronaldo will lead the tournament's global campaign, leveraging his social media following of over 850 million to spotlight the event and support the continued rise of Saudi Arabia's esports ecosystem on the world stage.


Al-Ahram Weekly
12-06-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Five of the stars missing at the Club World Cup
AFP Sport highlights five players who will not be lighting up stadiums across the United States once it gets underway this weekend: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Liverpool finished as English champions, but like Spain's Barcelona and Italy's Napoli, will not be at the Club World Cup, because of the convoluted qualification process. That means Egyptian winger Salah, who broke the Premier League record for goal involvements, with 29 strikes and 18 assists, misses out. After a tiring season in which he faded in the latter months Salah might not be too upset about having a summer off. The winger posted a photo of himself sunbathing by the beach on Instagram. However it will be a shame that African football icon Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and others miss out on the chance of a potential rematch against their Champions League conquerors Paris Saint-Germain. Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz will also be absent, as his side Bayer Leverkusen did not qualify. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) No player in world football this season has offered more excitement than Barcelona's 17-year-old star Lamine Yamal. The Spain winger has been in sensational form for his club this season and is one of the candidates to win the Ballon d'Or. Yamal's thrilling dribbling and penchant for the spectacular make him one of the biggest draws in world football at the moment. He is often compared to former Barcelona great Lionel Messi, but because of the Spanish champions' absence, may have missed out on his only chance to face the Argentina star, who will be there with Inter Miami. Barcelona's Raphinha, midfield maestro Pedri and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski are others who will be missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) Messi will also not go up against his long-time rival Ronaldo in the US. The Portuguese striker, 40, was reported to be looking for a way to play in the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had suggested Ronaldo might move from Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr to a team who had reached the event, saying that "discussions" were being held over it. Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who won the Nations League with Portugal last weekend, indicated after the game however he was set to stay at Al Nassr. "Some teams reached out to me," the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star revealed last Saturday on the eve of the Nations League final. "Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything. You can't catch every ball." Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal are another team to miss out and after finishing the season trophyless, the Club World Cup would have been a chance to win some silverware. England international Saka's only club trophy, excluding the FA Community Shield, was an FA Cup win with Arsenal in 2020. Mikel Arteta's side showed this season they have improved to the point where they are in contention for major honours, including knocking out Real Madrid in the Champions League, but came up just short. For a player of his quality, who has spent six seasons playing regularly at the top level, Saka could do with expanding his medal collection. Arsenal will be disappointed to miss out on the prize money too, as they try to overhaul Liverpool and Manchester City, who have dominated the English game in recent seasons. Neymar (Santos) Brazilian icon Neymar struggled with injury at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and returned to Santos in January 2025, hoping to get fit and firing ahead of next summer's World Cup. The 33-year-old forward, despite fading with age, is still one of the biggest names in the game and his absence is also a blow in a commercial sense. "Neymar, what can I say about him? He's an outstanding player, who, for me, in my football cycle, is in the top three, with Cristiano and Messi," said Brazil midfielder Casemiro. With organisers struggling to sell tickets, Neymar's presence would have been a boon. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link: