From Riyadh to Paris... Global Success for the Esports World Cup

Paris – AFP – The Esports World Cup, the massive video game competition held under the Saudi umbrella, concluded with results that organizers present as a success in terms of attendance, viewership, and international follow-up.

In a lavish celebratory atmosphere at the Grand Palais, the Chinese team “All Gamers” received the tournament trophy from French President Emmanuel Macron and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

From Faker to Niko and Zywoo, and Norway’s chess king Magnus Carlsen… the biggest stars of esports flocked to the exhibition center at the Porte de Versailles in Paris over seven weeks to compete on screens in 25 tournaments covering 24 different games.

Established in 2024, the Esports World Cup has become a key fixture on the global esports calendar, thanks to its scale, unique format, and global character… and, most importantly, its massive $75 million prize pool, making participation highly attractive, and sometimes essential, for clubs.

The Esports Nations Cup is a separate event from the Esports World Cup, which is also organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, and features club competitions rather than national teams.

Despite varying interest across different games, the tournament sold 175,000 tickets, compared to 90,000 in the previous edition held in Riyadh.

Digitally, 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 last year.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar, a member of the board of directors of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said, “Given what we are doing, our goals, and the growth we aspire to, I can say without hesitation that this event was a success.”

The Esports World Cup was launched in Riyadh with a Saudi vision, while Paris was chosen for the 2026 edition due to its advanced infrastructure, strategic location, and ideal competitive environment, which ensures the event meets its usual global standards, according to the Esports World Cup Foundation website. The foundation is a Saudi non-profit organization responsible for organizing the tournament.