Esports World Cup 2025 Features Star Performances During Opening Ceremony

The Esports World Cup 2025 has officially begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promising a seven-week tournament spanning 24 games and offering up a record-breaking $70 million prize pool. As part of the  event's first week, the official Opening Ceremony, taking place on July 10, will feature a number of live performances, including headliner Post Malone, and GRAMMY-nominated producer Alesso.

“This year’s Opening Ceremony will deliver a fresh take on the classic story of ambition, resilience and progress, told through the lens of EWC. ” said Ariel Horn, Executive Producer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “It’s exciting and new. So many game genres converging on one global stage, the music fuels the competitive fire at the heart of this event and this industry, and Post Malone is the perfect voice to carry that passion and celebrate the beginning of an historic event.”

Aside from being a 9x diamond-certified artist, Post Malone is also a lifelong gamer, having streamed Call of Duty: Warzone and PUBG to the gaming communitu, and also receiving his own collaboration with Apex Legends.

Also joining the line-up are cellist Tina Guo, a special collaboration by DINO of SEVENTEEN, Duckwrth, and Telle Smith of The Word Alive, who will debut the 2025 Esports World Cup Song of the Year, “Til My Fingers Bleed.”

As part of the ceremony, the city of Riyadh will also be treated to lit up sky through fireworks and a drone show. The red carpet begins at 9pm KSA, with the Opening Ceremony officially beginning at 10pm KSA.

Fans can expect to catch the EWC action across its full roster of titles: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA FC 25, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG MOBILE, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six Siege X, RENNSPORT, Rocket League, Starcraft 2, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, Tekken 8, and VALORANT.