Years ago, gaming was considered a relatively unknown pastime but today it is a multimillion-dollar industry for professionals with its own Esports World Cup.
This year the tournament has prize money of over SR280 million ($75 million), drawing more than 2,000 players from over 100 countries, and a global audience of hundreds of millions.
As more paths to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy emerge, these numbers signal the industry is a worthwhile investment. And the growth can be witnessed right now.
The 2026 Esports World Cup is currently underway in Paris, the tournament’s first edition outside Riyadh since its founding there in 2023. What has not changed is that the tournament is unlike anything else in competitive gaming.
The EWC distinguishes itself through its structure. For instance, while most tournaments such as League of Legends Worlds crown one champion in one game, this championship format has more than 24 different titles, with clubs earning points across all of them to determine an overall winner.
Unlike the Esports Nations Cup, debuting this November with countries competing against each other, the EWC brings together private clubs, including Team Falcons, Team Vitality, and AG.AL.
Hosting a tournament of this scale is one thing but winning it is another. When Team Falcons was founded in 2017 by two-time FIFA eWorld Cup champion Musaed Al-Dossary, they would go on to claim the EWC Club Championship in 2024 and 2025.
Team Falcons field more than 200 players across 27 different games. They are a team closer in size to a multinational sports federation rather than the small, informal setup most people picture when they hear the word esports.
The members of the team are chosen based on individual skill, global leaderboard rankings, and professional records. Team Falcons have signed players who have already proven themselves elsewhere, including stars KennyS from G2 Esports and ImperialHal from DarkZero Esports.
Gaming relies heavily on team effort and collaboration, so in-game leaders like Modhi “Madv” Alkanhal carry a huge responsibility to make sure a win can be secured in a high-stakes game.
In addition to being a leadership role, an IGL has the responsibility of guiding the group under time pressures. It requires huge skill but Alkanhal is more than qualified.
Apart from being the first player from the Middle East North Africa region to win a VCT Game Changers MENA/SEA event, and the first Saudi player to qualify for a VCT Game Changers Championship, Alkanhal also won Best Female Player at the SEF Awards for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025.
When Alkanhal joined Falcons Vega, she was balancing her studies with professional gaming. Joining Team Falcons reportedly began as a trial period, a way to assure her family that she could handle both. Her achievements have since resulted in the full support of her family.
Alkanhal has since gained many fans who now consider her a role model. Her story over the past few years has shown how much this new generation is being given room to grow and lead across many sectors.
Alkanhal has said as much herself. She has spoken about how proud she is to witness the Kingdom’s growing support for females in esports, and how Saudi Arabia has secured its place as a global name in gaming.
Today, nearly half the Kingdom’s 23.5 million gamers are female. Alkanhal’s success reflects something that has existed for a long time, waiting to be seen.
The stunning achievement of Saudi Arabia has been the production of the stage and the incredible people to play on it. There should be no doubt now, especially in the minds of those who choose to follow Alkanhal’s path, that global stardom is within reach.
