How Esports World Cup went global with 2026 edition’s move from Riyadh to Paris

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