Street Fighter 6 returns to EWC 2025 in Saudi Arabia 

Street Fighter 6 will make a highly anticipated return to the Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2025, cementing its place as one of the premier titles in the tournament. The competition is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. 

This marks the second edition of the EWC, following the success of its inaugural event in 2024.​ As the fifth confirmed game for the 2025 event, Street Fighter 6 joins an impressive lineup that includes Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Free Fire, and Honor of Kings. While the prize pool for the Street Fighter 6 tournament has not been disclosed, expectations are high after the 2024 event boasted a $1 million prize pool, with legendary player Xiao Hai claiming the top prize of $300,000​. 

The EWC is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to position itself as a global esports hub, leveraging significant investments through entities like ESL FACEIT Group. However, this involvement has sparked some criticism due to the country's human rights record. Despite this, the EWC continues to grow, promising a larger-scale competition in 2025​.