Counter-Strike 2 Confirmed as First Esports Title for the 2027 Esports World Cup

CS2 IN EWC 2027

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has officially been announced as the first confirmed esports title for the Esports World Cup 2027, even though the event is still nearly two years away. The announcement came via the official EWC account, with the tournament scheduled to run from July 16 to August 1, 2027.

Since its debut in 2024, the Esports World Cup has been held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together some of the biggest names and organisations in competitive gaming. CS2 has been a staple at every edition so far, and it’s clear Valve intends to keep it that way. In fact, this early confirmation aligns with Valve’s own tournament operation rules, which require organisers to announce events at least two years before they begin.

The Esports World Cup joins other major esports organisers in locking in their 2027 schedules. Back in July, BLAST revealed its 2027 BLAST Premier season dates, with six events planned between January and November. Fortunately for fans, the World Cup dates don’t overlap with any BLAST events, meaning you won’t have to choose between them.

There’s also another major competition on the horizon, the Olympic Esports Games, set to debut in 2027 under the Esports World Cup Foundation in partnership with the International Olympic Committee. Details are still scarce, but it’s shaping up to be a landmark year for competitive gaming.

CS2’s presence at the World Cup is hardly surprising. The 2025 edition, where The MongolZ wins, drew peak viewership of over 730,000, making it the tenth most-watched CS2 event of the year so far as per Esports Charts. With that kind of audience, it’s no wonder the organisers want to keep it as a flagship tournament.