French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly celebrated the country’s rising dominance within the global gaming ecosystem, declaring that “France is at the top of esports.”

The endorsement, shared via official presidential communications, followed French organisation Karmine Corp securing the championship title at the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Paris Major. Macron highlighted the home-turf victory alongside the upcoming relocation of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 to Paris as proof of France’s position as a premier global hub for digital competition.

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“With Karmine Corp crowned champions of RLCS Major 2 on Rocket League at home tonight, and the EWC arriving in Paris this summer… we can say it with pride: France is at the summit of esports!” stated Macron [translated from French]. Addressing the sudden geographical shift of the multi-game festival, he posted: “The EWC will be played in Paris! It is a first that honours us. Thank you to Saudi Arabia for its trust. We are ready to organise this 2026 Esports World Cup. Very proud to welcome the world once again.”

The double milestone underscores an exceptionally active month for the French competitive scene. Just days prior to Macron’s statements, the Esports Foundation (EF, former Esports World Cup Foundation) officially announced it was shifting the entire seven-week festival away from its customary venue in Riyadh to Paris, running from 6 July to 23 August 2026. The urgent relocation—prompted by regional airspace volatility and escalating security concerns surrounding the geopolitical conflict in Iran—was finalised after direct conversations between Macron and representatives of the EF including CEO Ralf Reichert to guarantee a stable framework for the event’s $75 million tournament structure.

Playing in front of a capacity hometown crowd at the Paris La Défense Arena, the French roster defeated Saudi Arabian lineup Twisted Minds 4–1 in the grand final. The victory not only keeps France atop the global Rocket League rankings heading into the World Championship in Fort Worth this September, but it also vindicates the massive regional audience interest that the EWC relies on to justify its European migration.

The French capital has also recently hosted major Rainbow Six and VALORANT tournaments, and will also host a Call of Duty League major in June. It is also home to powerhouses like Team Vitality, Gentle Mates, and Karmine Corp, who recently joined the EWC Club Partner Program after almost being left out. Adding that to the competitive success in multiple games, as Team Vitality is also dominant at the Counter-Strike 2 scene, it is hard to tell the French president is wrong about who is at the top of esports right now.

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