RIYADH: On Sunday, the third edition of the Esports World Cup came to an end, and its unqualified success in Paris will likely have exceeded the most optimistic expectations the organizers would have had when the tournament was moved from Riyadh earlier this year.
The first two editions of the EWC had been hosted in the Saudi capital to great fanfare, but an uncertain regional geopolitical climate called for a new home in 2026. Paris, only announced as new the host in May, has turned out to be an inspired choice.
The French capital was set the urgent task of ensuring the event moved seamlessly from Riyadh. Since then, Paris has shown just how much the EWC is now a global event, attracting over 2,000 players and 200 clubs from more than 100 nations since it kicked off on July 3.
Action from the tournament has been broadcast to 160 countries across OTT partners, streaming platforms and digital services, with figures expected to hit 7,000 hours of live programming produced throughout the competition.
At heart, however, it remains very much a Saudi-organized event.
At the tournament’s opening press conference in Paris, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation and board member of EWC organizers the Esports Foundation, was keen to highlight that the Kingdom’s capital is still the spiritual home of the tournament.
“EWC was born in Saudi Arabia from a bold belief that e-sports is a defining platform for the next generation of sports and entertainment, deserving a global stage equal to the passion of its players, clubs, publishers and fans,” he said. “Today, EWC has grown into much more than a tournament. It is a global platform that brings people together through gaming. Riyadh will always remain the home and foundation of the Esports World Cup, but our ambition has always extended beyond its borders.”
The success of three EWC editions shows that this mission has been accomplished.
“That ambition has brought us to Paris, marking an exciting new chapter for our community,” Prince Faisal added. “I would like to thank President Emmanuel Macron and our friends in France for their support and partnership in making this moment possible. Together, we are demonstrating the unique power of e-sports to bring the world together.”
The move from Riyadh to Paris, from Boulevard City to the Champs-Elysees, has not diluted Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the annual event it conceived in 2022 during the Riyadh-hosted predecessor Gamers8, and announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in of October 2023.
Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons, who claimed the inaugural title in 2024 before successfully defending their crown a year later, continue to be a dominant force in the Club Championship, excelling across multiple titles and were in with a chance of completing a hat-trick of triumphs before eventually finishing second behind AG.AL International.
The team established by Saudi Arabian gaming superstar Mossaad “Msdossary” Al-Dossary — FIFA eWorld Cup champion in 2028 — is not the only club carrying the Kingdom’s colours.
Twisted Minds have also emerged as one of the fastest-growing clubs in electronic sports and have already confirmed seventh place in the Club Championship standings with 1,900 points, securing $1.15 million in prize money along the way.
Outside the halls of competition at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the French capital has had a distinct gaming flavor over the last seven weeks. Large screens, activations and competitions, as well as fan experiences, have been taking place near the Arc de Triomphe, attracting scores of fans even as the 2026 FIFA World Cup was taking sporting center-stage. That it took Paris just eight weeks to put on this show was remarkable.
Mike McCabe, chief operating officer at the Esports Foundation — formerly the Esports World Cup Foundation — told Arab News the development was “an extraordinary moment,” confirming the organization’s goal of spreading e-sports to new global audiences.
Saudi fans have embraced the Esports World Cup at home and abroad. (Supplied)
McCabe praised the support provided by French authorities, including the Ministry of Sports, the City of Paris and local partners, for helping deliver the tournament on such short notice.
Mohamed Al-Nimer, chief commercial officer at the Esports Foundation, confirmed that more than 150,000 tickets have been sold by the start of August, with the tournament attracting global television and streaming audiences in the hundreds of millions.
For organizers, the Champs-Elysees was an obvious choice, one of the world’s most recognizable tourist attractions juxtaposing history and innovation for modern audiences.
The Fan Fest at the famous avenue has hosted many exhibits during the EWC, with the Saudi-themed Qiddiya City Booth being one of them. Visitors have been able to experience gaming challenges and artificial intelligence-powered activations, as well as discover what is coming to the Six Flags Qiddiya and Aquarabia theme parks.
As expected, the biggest names in e-sports have played a pivotal role in the success of the event, but extra stardust has come in the shape of brand ambassadors such as Cristiano Ronaldo and chess legend Magnus Carlson, himself a title winner at the EWC this summer.
Meanwhile Al-Hilal striker Karim Benzema, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and five UEFA Champions League titles, caused a stir at the Fan Fest when he took part in an “EA Sports FC 26” exhibition match. Local and international fans were delighted to meet one of France’s greatest ever footballers.
Al-Hilal's French superstar Karim Benzema at the Esports World Cup in Paris. (Supplied)
The Esports Foundation also partnered with Make-A-Wish France to host children living with critical illnesses, and their families, for a special VIP experience at the tournament, offering an immersive look into the global e-sports ecosystem.
The guests were welcomed by Prince Faisal, alongside Esports Foundation leadership and Elisa Cros, events project manager at Make-A-Wish France for the exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience.
“At the Esports Foundation, we believe e-sports has the power to bring people together, inspire young people, and create meaningful moments that extend far beyond competition,” said Thamer Al-Shuaibi, chief of staff at the Esports Foundation.
“We are proud to partner with Make-A-Wish France to create unforgettable experiences for these incredible children and their families, demonstrating how the global gaming community can make a positive impact wherever it comes together.”
Above all, for Saudi gaming fans, the EWC 2026 showed that teams from the Kingdom continue to compete with the world’s best. Indeed, the championship was close to being brought home by the very same club that has claimed the overall title in the first two editions, Team Falcons.
Chess legend Magnus Carlsen celebrates winning at the EWC 2026. (Supplied)
Last week, the gaming powerhouse was crowned Rocket League champions after a dominant 4-0 victory over Spacestation Gaming in the final to claim the title for the first time. The Saudi Arabian club, represented by Samy “dralii” Hajji and brothers Yazeed Abdullah “Kiileerrz” Bakhashwin and Saleh Abdullah “Rw9” Bakhashwin, secured the coveted title after three years of trying at the tournament.
Eventually, they fell just short.
Fittingly, after an outstanding EWC in Paris, the Club Championship went down to the wire with a Saudi team in it to the very end.
