The world’s biggest esports tournament will be held in Paris this summer after organizers moved the event from Riyadh due to concerns about ongoing conflict in the Middle East.The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup will run from July 6 to August 23 and will feature a staggering prize pool of over $75 million, making it the richest esports competition ever.More than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs around the world are expected to compete in 24 major gaming titles, including League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. Why was the tournament moved?The competition, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and launched in 2024, was previously hosted in Saudi Arabia for its first two editions. Riyadh was initially expected to host the tournament again in 2026.However, organizers admitted that regional instability forced a rethink.Ralph Reichert, head of the Saudi-based Esports Foundation, said the geopolitical situation has created great uncertainty regarding travel and logistics for participating teams and players.According to Reichert, concerns over whether competitors could safely and easily travel the region within the required time played a major role in the decision to move the event.
Macron celebrates ‘historic first’French President Emmanuel Macron enthusiastically welcomed the announcement, calling it “a historic first and an honor” for France.Macron also thanked Saudi Arabia for its trust and expressed his confidence that Paris will successfully host the global sports spectacle.Officials believe the tournament could boost tourism in the Paris region, with thousands of players, staff members and fans expected to arrive during the seven-week event.Despite the temporary move, organizers indicated that long-term plans remain to rotate the competition between global cities, with the tournament expected to return to Riyadh in 2027.
