In Esports, Saudi Arabia is building more than a stage

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,