The Evolution Championship Series (EVO), widely recognized as the world’s premier fighting game tournament, is embarking on its most ambitious expansion yet. Starting in 2027, EVO will add regular events in five new countries around the world, including Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China, and notably, Morocco. This development represents a historic moment for the global fighting-game community, and particularly for Africa, where competitive esports has been rapidly growing.
A New Era for EVO
For more than two decades, EVO has stood as the flagship event in the fighting game community, bringing players from across the world together in open-bracket competition. Traditionally, its largest events were hosted in the United States, Japan, and Europe, most recently with major stops in Las Vegas, Tokyo, and Nice.
Under new ownership by RTS (a Saudi Arabia-based company), organizers have articulated a bold long-term strategy to expand EVO’s footprint globally while maintaining the core values and competitive structure that fans have come to love. The core event formats, levels of competition, and investment in quality will remain consistent across all new locations.
Morocco: Africa’s New Frontier
Among the new host countries, Morocco stands out as a key addition representing Africa’s first dedicated EVO event destination. This move is more than symbolic; it positions Africa within the global EVO circuit in an unprecedented way.
Morocco’s role echoes the country’s broader ambitions toward sports development and global engagement. In recent years, Morocco has hosted major international events, such as the World Football Summit in Rabat, underscoring its ability to bring together global talent and industry professionals.
What This Means for African Players
A frequent question from the African gaming community has been: Will EVO Morocco be open only to local African players, or will it be a truly global event?
Here’s the key point: EVO has always been an open tournament series, meaning that any player from anywhere in the world can enter, provided they meet registration requirements. This open format is part of EVO’s identity and has not changed with the expansion.
Policy, like other regional stops, such as EVO Japan, EVO France, and the upcoming EVO Singapore, just as other regional stops like EVO Japan, EVO France, and the upcoming EVO Singapore do. That means:
- Players from Africa and beyond can compete, provided they register and meet standard eligibility requirements.
- The event will serve as a regional hub for competition, but not exclusively for Africans.
- It may also function as a regional qualifier or stepping stone to larger EVO events or global championship formats.
This global access aligns with EVO’s stated goal of welcoming “players from all countries and backgrounds,” and building “sustainable events that highlight each region’s local community.”
The Bigger Picture for Africa
EVO’s entry into Africa via Morocco could have several positive ripple effects:
- Increased visibility for African fighting-game communities.
- Opportunities for local organizers to partner with global esports infrastructure.
- Boosts to grassroots competitive scenes as local players gain direct access to world-class competition.
- Potential for more regional qualifiers and pathways into the broader competitive ecosystem.
Although detailed logistics and qualification pathways for EVO 2027 events have not yet been fully disclosed, their expansion clearly signals that EVO sees Africa as part of the global competitive esports landscape, not just a sideline.
The announcement of EVO events in Morocco is a milestone for African esports. It reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding its global reach while maintaining an inclusive, open platform where gamers from around the world, including Africa, can compete on equal footing. As EVO continues to unveil specifics for its 2027 calendar and formats, the African fighting game community now has reason to be excited: this expansion invites them into the heart of a truly global competitive stage
