Esports World Cup 2026 Reportedly Moving to Paris as CS2 Event Expands to 32 Teams

The Esports World Cup 2026 is reportedly set to relocate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Paris, France, according to multiple esports industry sources cited by GamesBeat.

The move comes amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns surrounding travel logistics ahead of one of the biggest esports events ever organized.

According to the report, stakeholders inside the EWC ecosystem have already been informed about the planned relocation, although an official spokesperson for the tournament declined to comment publicly on the situation.

Esports World Cup 2026 Could Leave Riyadh

The Esports World Cup was originally announced as a massive seven-week esports festival scheduled to run from July 6 to August 23, 2026.

Tournament organizers previously confirmed that the event would feature:

25 tournaments across 24 esports titles

More than 2,000 professional players

Around 200 esports organizations

A record-breaking $75 million total prize pool

If the move is finalized, Paris would become the first European host city for the Saudi-backed esports mega-event.

The reported venue change follows earlier comments from EWC Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert, who acknowledged that the ongoing conflict in Iran had already complicated travel planning for teams, staff, and fans.

Speaking to TIME earlier this year, Reichert said:

“People are more hesitant to travel.”

CS2 at Esports World Cup 2026 Set for Major Expansion

The Counter-Strike 2 tournament at EWC 2026 is expected to become the largest version of the event so far.

HLTV previously reported that the tournament will expand from 16 teams to 32 teams, while maintaining a $2 million prize pool.

Planned changes reportedly include:

A 32-team main event

Double-elimination group stages

A non-BYOC open LAN qualifier featuring up to 128 teams

Additional regional invites for North America, South America, and Asia

Most participating teams are still expected to qualify through the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system.

However, the reported relocation to Paris could create complications regarding Valve tournament regulations. Because the event was originally registered for Riyadh, organizers may need Valve approval for venue-related adjustments.

It also remains unclear whether the open LAN qualifier format can be preserved if the tournament changes locations on short notice.

Previous EWC CS Champions

The Counter-Strike division of the Esports World Cup has quickly become one of the scene’s most prestigious tournaments.

Recent champions include:

Natus Vincere — EWC 2024 winners

The MongolZ — EWC 2025 champions

The MongolZ captured their first Big Event trophy in 2025 after defeating Aurora in the grand final.

Following the loss, Aurora captain MAJ3R admitted:

“They were way better individually and as a team.”

Before the playoffs, Aurora AWPer woxic also discussed the pressure of consistently competing at elite international events:

“Everyone wants to go further. That’s why we are working harder than ever right now.”

Why the Paris Move Matters for Esports

A potential move from Riyadh to Paris would represent one of the biggest logistical shifts in modern esports history.

The Esports World Cup has become a cornerstone project for Saudi Arabia’s global esports ambitions, attracting major publishers, organizations, and sponsors with unprecedented prize pools and large-scale production.

Relocating the event to Europe could significantly affect:

Team travel schedules

Visa logistics

Venue operations

Qualification systems

Broadcast production timelines

Valve tournament approval procedures

For CS2 fans and teams, the biggest unanswered questions now involve whether the tournament dates, qualifier structure, and competitive format will remain unchanged ahead of the 2026 season.