The Esports Foundation and France’s Ministère des Sports, de la Jeunesse et de la Vie associative (Ministry of Sport, Youth and Community Life) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris and help grow esports in France over the long term.
The announcement was shared by the Esports Foundation, which said the partnership aims to use major esports events to create positive social and economic impact beyond competition.
Under the agreement, the Esports Foundation and France’s Ministry of Sport, Youth and Community Life will work together on projects that help young people develop skills through esports. For example, they may organise gaming workshops in schools to teach students digital skills, online safety, teamwork, and fair play.
Esports Foundation highlighted that France is already recognised as one of the world’s leading esports markets, with a strong competitive gaming community and established esports talent. France is considered the third-largest esports nation in the world, with homegrown clubs like Vitality, Gentle Mates, and Karmine Corp regularly competing at the highest international level. Officials believe hosting the Esports World Cup 2026 will further reinforce the country’s position as a global esports destination.
The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris from July 6 to August 23. According to the announcement, the event is expected to bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. It will also be the first edition of the Esports World Cup to be held outside Riyadh.
The competition will be hosted at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and will feature 25 tournaments across 24 esports titles, ranging from League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2 to Dota 2 and Fortnite. The total prize pool for the event stands at a record $75 million, surpassing all previous editions.
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