Geopolitics shifts $75m Esports World Cup from Riyadh to Paris

The Esports World Cup (EWC) opens in Paris this week after organisers abruptly moved the $75m tournament from Riyadh just eight weeks ago. The Esports Foundation, the non-profit running the event, cited safety concerns stemming from the conflict between the United States and Iran as the primary reason for the shift.

Relocating a competition of this scale to the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre required a monumental logistical effort. Organisers had to install vast broadcasting infrastructure, with COO Mike McCabe noting they laid enough cable "to get basically from London to Birmingham and back again." The seven-week tournament features 2,000 players from 100 countries competing across titles like Call of Duty and League of Legends.

For professional gaming teams, the event's continuation is a financial necessity. Global funding for esports has declined, leaving squads unable to pass up the EWC's massive prize pool. Teams have previously said they "can't afford to ignore" the contest, regardless of the surrounding controversies.

The last-minute evacuation highlights the geopolitical risks embedded in Saudi Arabia's push into global sports and gaming. The EWC was launched with an announcement from Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as part of a broader strategy to make the kingdom a gaming hub. Critics have long labelled the tournament "sportswashing", arguing it is designed to distract from the country's human rights record and anti-LGBT laws.

Some players and fans have maintained a boycott of the event despite its European relocation. The Esports Foundation insists the Paris stint is temporary, with plans to return the main tournament to Riyadh next year and host a sister event, the Esports Nations Cup, in Saudi Arabia this November.

For France, the sudden arrival represents a notable win for the local esports economy. The French government actively supported the relocation, with President Emmanuel Macron welcoming the decision and state agencies expediting visas for international competitors.

The move has particularly benefited Paris-based organisations like Team Vitality. "The entire world will be in our hometown, so we have to welcome them and make a lot of extra effort," said Vitality CEO Fabien "Neo" Devide. "But it's a massive opportunity."

Organisers report strong ticket sales, including sell-outs, driven by fans from France, Germany and the UK who could not previously afford to travel to Riyadh. "We saw huge demand from the French clubs in really bringing their fans here, and they're some of the most vocal and passionate esports fans in the world," McCabe said.