Paris hosts Esports World Cup after Riyadh move, sparking plans for global rotation

Facing a regional security situation, the Esports World Cup was relocated from Riyadh to Paris for its 2026 edition, a move the Esports Foundation executed in less than six weeks while navigating a difficult visa process. Faisal Bin Homran, the foundation's chief product officer, described the rapid shift as proof that the tournament can travel, accelerating a strategy originally slated for later years. While Riyadh will stay the default hub, the Paris edition demonstrated that rotating the event is feasible, leveraging the city's venues, infrastructure and established esports audience.

The competition was expanded beyond pure matches, adding fan zones and activities aimed at families and casual gamers. Looking ahead, the foundation views India as a key market and is developing plans for a physical Indian qualifier to feed into the World Cup, pending greater global alignment of game versions by publishers.