The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that football icons Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká will go head-to-head in the Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch on August 9, 2025. Taking place during the EWC 2025 EA FC game week, live on stage in the STC Arena of the EWC Festival in Riyadh, the Showmatch blends elite football legacy with competitive gaming in a crossover moment that celebrates the rise of esports as a global sport.

The 2025 edition builds on the success of last year’s Showmatch debut ft. Neymar Jr. and Team Falcons’ Mossad “Msdossary” Al-Dossary. That foundation now returns on a bigger scale, as the Esports World Cup 2025 continues to blur the lines between sporting legacy and digital competition. The format is being elevated into a best-of-three digital derby featuring EA SPORTS FC 25 competition. With Cristiano Ronaldo recently named Global Ambassador of the EWC 2025, the Showmatch embodies the tournament’s commitment to bridging traditional sport and esports on a global stage.

“Ronaldo and Kaká embody competitive excellence and legacy, drawing passionate support from fans around the world – everything great sport aspires to achieve,” said Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Their presence at the Esports World Cup reflects values that connect traditional sport and gaming, showing how those worlds are coming together in ways that truly resonate with fans. Bringing together legends who inspire multiple generations and communities is what makes this Showmatch truly special. We’re honoured to have them with us on this stage, especially during football week.”

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Adding to the spectacle, Ronaldo and Kaká are also scheduled to appear on EWC Spotlight, the tournament’s premium broadcast series, offering insight into their role in the future of global sport and entertainment.

The match will feature a bespoke creative set-up inspired by Brazilian street football, old-school collectible cards, and graffiti art, incorporating EWC 2025 elements in a nostalgic yet modern expression of sport, elite esports competition, and fandom. Dedicated cheering sections, post-match Q&As, and exclusive fan rewards will ensure that attendees and viewers are fully immersed in the experience.

Celebrating football week at EWC 2025, the Showmatch and EA SPORTS FC Pro World Championship are joined by the Kings League MENA Presentation on August 10th, marking the competition’s regional debut. Founded by Gerard Piqué, the fast-paced, seven-a-side competition, which blends football with fan-led rules and digital interactivity, kicks off its MENA expansion at EWC 2025. At the event, Piqué will unveil team names, logos, and club presidents, including top regional creators.

The EWC Showmatch 2025 and Kings League MENA Presentation are some of the headline entertainment experiences of this summer’s EWC, the world’s largest esports event, hosted in Riyadh through to August 24, 2025. The tournament’s unique cross-game format brings together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs, competing across 25 tournaments in 24 games for a life-changing $70m+ prize pool.

This year, icons Magnus Carlsen and Cristiano Ronaldo join the Esports World Cup as Global Ambassadors, bringing their competitive legacy and global reach to the world’s biggest esports stage. Carlsen, the reigning chess champion, also competes in the inaugural EWC Chess Tournament (July 29–31).

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Light & Wonder Inc. announced its participation in the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE), taking place August 12-14 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. At booth #190, the Company will showcase a mix of fan-favourite franchises and proven game mechanics, all stemming from L&W’s global in-house studios.

Over the past three years, L&W has expanded from 12 to 16 land-based studios worldwide, with six studios now dedicated to building content specifically for the Australian market.

“Australia and New Zealand continue to be a vital market for Light & Wonder, fueled by strong operator collaborations and players who consistently engage with high-performing titles like HUFF N’ PUFF. Our momentum in the region is the result of sustained investment in R&D and an intense focus on delivering the best games that drive real results on the floor,” said Matt Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder.

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Gaming Innovations on Display: L&W will showcase a comprehensive lineup of new content including 14 unique themes across five game families; each built around a mix of proven and innovative mechanics.

FORTUNE DOORS leads the lineup, marking its global debut in Australia and New Zealand. Available in both Link and SAP formats, this bold new game family features a unique secondary Hold & Spin mechanic designed to drive player engagement and deliver thrilling win potential.

The iconic LOCKED AND LOADED game family returns with a fresh twist in the new LOCK N’ MORE LINK series, introducing four original titles: PIGGY N’ MORE BANKIN’, EUREKA N’ MORE BLASTIN’, HUFF N’ MORE PUFF and a new iteration of CATS, HATS N’ MORE BATS.

HUFF N’ EVEN MORE PUFF continues the global success of the HUFF N’ PUFF franchise, offering an action-packed experience with upgraded classic features designed for more wins. Inspired by the classic fable, this game challenges players to build houses strong enough to withstand the Big Bad Wolf, while unlocking exciting features like Free Games, a Buzz Saw, the Mega Hat and Mansions.

Light & Wonder is also introducing LEGENDS OF THE DEEP, a deep-sea adventure series featuring two new games: OCEAN NYMPH and NEPTUNE’S FURY. These games bring fresh content variety through an oceanic lens and feature a core “frame upgrade” Free Games mechanic for added thrill and reward.

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Table Games for Modern Casinos: L&W will showcase the QUARTZ HYBRID NOVA table, featuring a suite of player-favorite games including Roulette, ROULETTEX, Baccarat, Dragon Tiger Baccarat and STADIUM BLACKJACK.

Also on display will be the QUARTZ VEGAS STAR platform, which offers immersive gameplay through titles like Roulette, ROULETTEX and Tiger Baccarat. This platform is designed to elevate the electronic table games experience. The GM ATLAS Progressive Table system will feature games ULTIMATE TEXAS HOLD ‘EM, Free Bet Blackjack, DOUBLE HOOK POKER and DOUBLE DOWN MADNESS, offering operators fresh ways to engage players at tables.

Systems Solutions: L&W will highlight its new innovations in casino systems management solutions. Offerings include LNW Engage AI, CANVAS, in-game hardware, responsible gaming measures and cardless capabilities. Attendees can also see new advancements like RAPIDPLAY cashless solution, NFC and the Patron Mobile App with UNIFIED WALLET, alongside PATRON KIOSK. These solutions are designed to deliver a modern, frictionless experience that empowers both operators and players.

SciPlay’s First AGE: Making its debut at AGE, Light & Wonder’s social games division, SciPlay, brings the Company’s most popular gaming content, such as DANCING DRUMS, ULTIMATE FIRE LINK and the successful HUFF N’ PUFF franchises to millions of mobile game players around the world. SciPlay’s portfolio, including QUICK HIT Slots, 88 FORTUNES casino, JACKPOT PARTY Casino Slots, GOLD FISH Casino, and MONOPOLY Slots Casino, deliver captivating experiences that players love. SciPlay’s games are available on all leading mobile and digital platforms including APPLE, GOOGLE, FACEBOOK and AMAZON.

Gordon Brown has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase the gambling taxes so she can lift benefit restrictions at her autumn Budget.

The former Labour prime minister and chancellor says Britain is facing a “social crisis” with a growing need to take children out of poverty.

Hiking taxes on the “undertaxed” gambling industry was “by far the most cost-effective way” for the chancellor to do this, he argued.

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The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents gambling companies, warned the “economically reckless” plan would push gamblers into the black market.

Reeves is widely expected to raise taxes at this autumn’s Budget, after poor economic figures and a series of U-turns on welfare cuts made it harder to meet the government’s self-imposed spending rules.

It has prompted speculation about which areas the chancellor, who reportedly kept a framed photo of predecessor Brown in her room as a student, could look to when putting together her Budget this autumn.