According to reports, the Esports World Cup 2026 aka EWC might be moved from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to Paris in France due to increasing tensions in the Middle East and the potential dangers posed to the world of gaming. There has been no official confirmation regarding this matter, but nonetheless, talks have started.
Security Concerns Raise Questions Over EWC 2026 Riyadh Event
Saudi Arabia has hosted previous editions of the Esports World Cup and has invested heavily in becoming a leading destination for esports and gaming entertainment. However, recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States have reportedly raised concerns about hosting a large international event in the region.
The teams, fans, and even the industry experts are eagerly waiting for an official announcement about the venue for the championship.
Paris is considered the best replacement for the event due to its established infrastructure in esports and previous experience in organizing big gaming championships.
In addition, the city boasts well-developed transport services and modern stadiums. Moreover, the time zone of France is not too different from Saudi Arabia’s, which would facilitate broadcast without any delays for teams and viewers.
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Shenzhen VISA Concerns
While there are numerous advantages of organizing a tournament in Paris, relocating such an event to a new city last-minute can prove to be difficult, requiring quick organization of venue and accommodation, logistics, and personnel at the busiest time of year in Europe.
The cost of accommodation in Paris is generally higher than other cities in Europe. This could raise additional costs for participating teams, their members, as well as the entire organization itself. Visa issues may also become a major concern. Unlike Saudi Arabia’s simpler entry system for esports participants, France requires many visitors to obtain Schengen visas.
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