Esports World Cup moves to Paris

The Esports Foundation said on May 20 that the 2026 Esports World Cup will be staged in Paris from July 6 through August 23, moving the event outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. The foundation said Paris would become the first international host city in the tournament’s history after what it described as an extended evaluation process tied to the “current regional situation.” The event had previously been scheduled for Riyadh on the same dates. Organizers said the competition would retain its scale, with more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries expected to take part. ### Why was the tournament moved out of Riyadh? The Esports Foundation said the move followed “an extended evaluation process” and was made “in light of the current regional situation.” In a fan-facing explanation posted on its website, the foundation said Paris was selected because it offered the accessibility, infrastructure and competitive conditions needed to deliver the event “at full global scale.” (esportsworldcup.com) Ralf Reichert, chief executive of the Esports Foundation, said Riyadh “helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon” and called the Saudi capital the home of EWC. Reichert said Paris would host the event’s “first edition outside Saudi Arabia” and described it as the “first international chapter in EWC history.” (esportsworldcup.com) ### What stays the same in the 2026 edition? The July 6-Aug. 23 window remains unchanged from the schedule the Esports World Cup Foundation published in January. The foundation had announced a total prize pool of $75 million for the 2026 event and said the competition would run over seven weeks. (esportsworldcup.com) The Esports Foundation’s May announcement said the Paris edition would again welcome more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. It also said the event would feature 24 games across 25 tournaments for a prize pool of more than $75 million. (esportsworldcup.com) ### Where did the “21 disciplines” figure come from? The official Esports World Cup materials now describe the 2026 event as 24 games across 25 tournaments, not 21 disciplines. The competitions page for 2026 lists a long slate of main-event tournaments running from July into August, and the January prize-pool release used the same 24-game, 25-tournament framing. (esportsworldcup.com) That means the official count on the organizer’s site differs from some secondary reports published on May 21. The foundation’s own releases are the clearest source for the current event format. ### What does France say it is getting? France’s presidential office said on May 20 that the event would be held in Paris from July 6 to August 23, 2026, and called it the first edition outside Saudi Arabia. (esportsworldcup.com) The Elysee said the tournament would bring together more than 2,000 professional players from 200 international clubs representing over 100 countries. (esportsworldcup.com) Emmanuel Macron’s office also pointed to France’s recent hosting of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Six Invitational and the RLCS Major 2. The Elysee said three French clubs — Team Vitality, Gentle Mates and Karmine Corp — had qualified for the highest international level and would compete in front of a home crowd. (elysee.fr) ### What has not been announced yet? The Esports Foundation said details on the Paris venue would be announced in the coming weeks. The organizer also said clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets would be contacted directly, and that ticket sales for Paris would open in the coming weeks alongside more information on the fan experience and tournament schedule. (elysee.fr) The next dated milestone is July 6, 2026, when the Paris edition is scheduled to begin, according to the Esports World Cup website and the Elysee. (esportsworldcup.com)