French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud were among the high-profile attendees at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 Finals in Paris, alongside footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The presence of Macron and Mohammed bin Salman was cited directly by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Esports Foundation, as a marker of the tournament’s growing international standing following its first edition held outside Riyadh. Ronaldo, who is an EWC brand ambassador, and Infantino’s attendance adds a further layer of mainstream sports crossover to an event that has increasingly positioned itself alongside traditional sport on the world stage.
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“We are proud of what the Esports World Cup has achieved in Paris and of its continued international growth,” said HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Esports Foundation. “Bringing the EWC to a global audience beyond Saudi Arabia marks an important milestone in its journey and reflects the growing recognition of esports as a global industry, connecting communities, cultures and audiences around the world.”
“The attendance of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, alongside President Emmanuel Macron, is a testament to the growing importance and global interest in esports, and to how far the industry has come,” added Prince Faisal.
“Our ambition has always been bigger than a single event: to grow esports and establish it as a leading global sport,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “The Esports World Cup brings that mission to life by bringing the best games, players, Clubs and communities together on one global stage.”
The high-profile turnout came as AG.AL was crowned EWC 2026 Club Champion, closing out seven weeks of competition that drew a reported 850 million viewers and 440 million hours watched, alongside record ticket sales across Paris venues. Additionally, the Esports Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the French Ministry of Sports, Youth and Community Life to support long-term youth esports participation and talent development in France.
