Saudi Crown Prince, Macron attend Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday attended the awards ceremony for the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Grand Palais, as part of the Crown Prince’s state visit to France.

Macron presented AG.AL with the Esports World Cup title following seven weeks of elite competition.

The Esports World Cup was launched in Riyadh as a Saudi initiative, with Paris selected to host the 2026 edition because of its advanced infrastructure, strategic and easily accessible location, and competitive environment capable of staging the event to international standards, according to the Esports World Cup Foundation, the Saudi non-profit organization behind the tournament.

Although this year’s tournament was held in Paris, bringing together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries, Riyadh will retain its role as the strategic hub for the long-term future of the Esports World Cup. The competition is set to return to Saudi Arabia for its 2027 edition.