In a move that reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global destination for the gaming sector, the Esports World Cup Foundation has officially announced details of the third edition of the world's largest event, scheduled to be held in the capital, Riyadh, during the summer of 2026. The Foundation revealed unprecedented prize money of $75 million, representing a milestone in the history of esports competitions.
Riyadh is the capital of esports
Riyadh is preparing to host this global event from July 6 to August 23, 2026. This announcement comes in the context of the major transformation that the esports sector in the Kingdom is witnessing within Vision 2030. The event is no longer just a passing tournament, but has turned into a strategic platform that combines tourism, entertainment and technology, thus consolidating the Kingdom’s position as an international center of gravity in this growing field.
This continued expansion in the size of the prizes and the number of participants reflects the organization’s commitment to developing a sustainable system for clubs and players, as these tournaments contribute to transforming the hobby into a professional career path that ensures a promising future for young talents around the world.
Standard tournament and prize system
The 2026 edition will feature intense competition spanning seven weeks, with over 2,000 professional players representing elite clubs from nearly 100 countries. The tournament is distinguished by its unique focus on the "Club Championship," which boasts a $30 million prize pool for the top 24 clubs, with the champion receiving $7 million. This innovative system encourages clubs to invest in multiple teams across different sports, rather than concentrating solely on a single discipline.
In this regard, Ralf Reichert, the foundation’s CEO, stressed that the aim of these huge prizes is to “change the lives of players” and support the financial sustainability of the clubs that form the backbone of this sector.
List of games and new expansion
The calendar includes 25 tournaments across 24 of the world's most popular competitive games, and the list has seen exciting new additions such as "Fortnite" and "Trackmania", alongside traditional giants like:
- League of Legends
- Call of Duty (in its various versions)
- EA Sports FC 26
- PUBG Mobile
- Counter-Strike 2
- Rocket League
- VALORANT
- Tekken 8
And other games that cover all genres from strategy to combat and shooting.
Echoes of global success
This announcement follows the resounding success of the 2025 edition, which set records with over 750 million viewers worldwide and a peak concurrent viewership of nearly 8 million. The event and its accompanying festival in Riyadh also attracted over 3 million visitors, underscoring the tournament's significant economic and tourism impact and making the 2026 edition a highly anticipated event that will reshape the global esports landscape.
