In a celebrated moment, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the iconic Grand Palais for the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris.
Coupled with the signing of an agreement to strengthen sports cooperation between Riyadh and Paris, the event marked a major milestone in Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports diplomacy and its deepening partnership with France, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to build global partnerships that drive innovation, youth engagement, and economic growth.
EWC Grand Ceremony
The Big Picture: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman witnessed President Macron presenting the Club Championship trophy to AG.AL (All Gamers), which finished first in the overall standings with 5,300 points, clinching the $7 million grand prize, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
What to Know: The EWC was held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. The first two editions took place in Riyadh and the next edition is set to return to the Saudi capital. The closing ceremony in Paris brought together high-profile figures, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Al-Nassr football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Between the Lines: The Crown Prince’s attendance in Paris reaffirmed his unwavering support for the gaming and esports sector, as well as his determination to establish the Kingdom as a global hub for the industry.
In His Words: “Bringing the EWC to a global audience beyond Saudi Arabia marks an important milestone in its journey and reflects the growing recognition of esports as a global industry, connecting communities, cultures and audiences around the world. The attendance of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, alongside President Emmanuel Macron, is a testament to the growing importance and global interest in esports, and to how far the industry has come.” – Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Esports Foundation.
The Sports Diplomacy
The Catalyst: On the sidelines of the EWC 2026 closing ceremony, the Saudi Ministry of Sport signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French Ministry of Sports, Youth and Community Life to boost bilateral cooperation in the sports sector.
Key Areas of Cooperation:
- Program & Knowledge Exchange: Sharing expertise among national sports institutions, covering technical, administrative, and scientific research domains.
- Athletic & Professional Development: Personnel growth initiatives alongside joint visits and exchanges for national teams.
- High-Performance & Emerging Fields: Targeted cooperation across elite athletics, esports, grassroots initiatives, sports science, sports medicine, and sports law.
- Events & Academic Seminars: Expanded cross-participation in conferences, seminars, and hosted sporting events.
- Organizational Collaboration: Direct partnerships between coaches, researchers, medical experts, and sports governing bodies.
Why It Matters: The MoU underscores the strength of Saudi-French ties and the two countries’ shared commitment to build a broader, long-term bilateral sports partnership.
Esports Expanding Market
State of Play: Announced by the Saudi Crown Prince in 2023 as a Saudi-born initiative with global ambition, the EWC’s inaugural edition tokk place in Riyadh in 2024, followed by an expanded edition in 2025. The choice of Paris to host the third edition – the first outside Riyadh – marks a significant stride in the tournament’s global rise.
The Context: Saudi Arabia has rapidly evolved into a central global powerhouse for competitive gaming, driven by its young, tech-savvy population. Under the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, the Kingdom catalyzed massive investments to build local infrastructure, acquire international gaming giants, and foster domestic talent.
This momentum was further boosted by the launch of mega-events in Riyadh such as Gamers8 and the annual EWC, positioning the Kingdom as a premier host for elite international competitions.
The Impact: Saudi Team Falcons finished as runners-up in the Club Championship, reinforcing the competitive caliber of local Saudi organizations on the world stage.
Looking Ahead: By targeting game development, talent retention, and global events, Saudi Arabia aims to contribute SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) to national GDP and create 39,000 local jobs by 2030 and establish itself as the undisputed capital of global esports.
سمو #ولي_العهد يُشرّف بحضور فخامة رئيس الجمهورية الفرنسية حفل اختتام بطولة كأس العالم للرياضات الإلكترونية 2026 في باريس.#محمد_بن_سلمان_في_باريس#كاس_العالم_للرياضات_الالكترونيه#EWC26#واس pic.twitter.com/QbX24Yu0ht
— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) August 23, 2026
EWC 2026 by the Numbers:
- $75 million+ total prize pool (largest in esports history).
- 2,000+ players, 200 clubs, 100+ nations across 25 elite titles.
- 850 million+ digital viewers, 440M+ hours watched in 47 languages.
- 94% surge in ticket sales compared to previous years.
What They’re Saying: “France is proud to have hosted the Esports World Cup in Paris this summer! This success is the result of the ambition we share with Saudi Arabia to grow esports, bring our talents and our countries closer together.” – Emmanuel Macron, France’s President.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued support of HRH the Crown Prince, which has been instrumental in building the Esports World Cup into the global platform it is today. Bringing EWC to Paris marks an important new chapter and demonstrates the strength of the model established in Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh remains its home.” – Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
