Global Success and Exceptional Finale of the Esports World Cup
After being urgently transferred from Riyadh to Paris, the Esports World Cup, the massive video game competition held in Saudi Arabia, concluded the day before yesterday with results that organizers describe as a success in terms of audience attendance, viewership, and international follow-up.
Over seven weeks, the biggest stars of esports flocked to the exhibition center at the Porte de Versailles in Paris to compete on screens across 25 tournaments featuring 24 different games. The event was staged with spectacular production, giant screens, and pyrotechnic effects. On the final day, the Accor Arena in Bercy hosted the Counter-Strike grand final, while the closing ceremony took place at the Grand Palais.
In a lavish celebratory atmosphere, the Chinese team All Gamers received the championship trophy from French President Emmanuel Macron and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo. They were joined by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, who was in Paris as part of a two-day diplomatic visit.
As with traditional sports, Saudi Arabia has mobilized significant resources to cement its status as a global power in esports, as part of a declared investment strategy. The Esports World Cup, launched in 2024, has become a key fixture on the global esports calendar, thanks to its scale, unique format, global character, and, most importantly, its massive prize pool of $75 million, making participation highly attractive and sometimes essential for clubs.
The first two editions were held in Saudi Arabia, but in late May, organizers were forced to make an emergency decision to move the event to Paris due to the situation in the Middle East. This instability also led to the postponement of the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, by a full year. The Esports Nations Cup is a separate competition from the Esports World Cup, both organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, and features club teams rather than national teams.
On the digital front, the 2026 edition achieved significant progress, with 850 million views across various platforms and 440 million hours watched, representing increases of 13% and 26%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, a member of the board of directors of the Esports World Cup Foundation, stated, “Given what we are doing, our goals, and the growth we aspire to, I can say without hesitation that this event was a success.”
