The fourth Esports World Cup began July 6 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles with a record US$75 million prize pool across 25 tournaments; the event was relocated from Riyadh to Paris in May 2026 after Iran-aligned forces attacked Saudi infrastructure, marking the first time the event has been held outside Saudi Arabia
Competitive video gaming, a global industry reaching 640 million viewers and US$5 billion in 2026, now seeking Olympic status as Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and China race for dominance.
full dossier ›Esports and women's professional sport are the two fastest-growing commercial categories in global athletics, reshaping media rights, sponsorship, and governance.