Relocation of the 2026 Edition
The Esports World Cup (EWC), created in 2024 and funded by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, moved from Riyadh to Paris in May following the war in the Middle East. On September 25, the event concluded at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles after seven weeks of competition.
Event Statistics
The 2026 edition sold 175 000 tickets, compared to 90 000 in the previous Riyadh edition. Online, it reached 850 million viewers across platforms and 440 million viewing hours, a 13 % and 26 % increase over the previous year.
Format and Rewards
The tournament featured 25 events across 24 different games, including Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Fortnite, and other major titles. The total prize pool was 75 million dollars, making participation essential for clubs.
Closing Ceremony
The Counter-Strike final was held at Accor Arena in Bercy, while the trophy ceremony took place at the Grand Palais. The Chinese team All Gamers won the competition, receiving the trophy presented by Emmanuel Macron and Cristiano Ronaldo, in front of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane.
Organizers’ Reactions
Mike McCabe, director of the Esports Foundation, said: “Launching this competition has been a huge success: moving from the conception of an event in Riyadh to a world-class event in Paris in less than eight weeks is unprecedented.” Prince Faisal bin Bandar added: “This event has been a success.”
Vision 2030 and International Support
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to diversify the GDP by developing the video-games and esports sector. The kingdom invested heavily in sport, inviting personalities such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michelin-starred chef Philippe Etchebest to support the event.
Conclusion
The Esports World Cup has thus cemented its position as a major global esports calendar event, proving that the relocation to Paris paid off both financially and media-wise.
