Cristiano Ronaldo

The Esports World Cup Foundation has renewed the mandates of Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen as global ambassadors for the 2026 Esports World Cup. The announcement coincides with the opening of the 2026 tournament in Paris on July 8, where more than 2,000 players representing 200 esports clubs from over 100 countries will compete across 25 tournaments in 24 game titles for a total prize pool of $75 million. Ronaldo and Carlsen will continue as global ambassadors for the tournament. Their continued association reflects the event's efforts to bring together competitive gaming, traditional sports and global entertainment. Ralf Reichert , CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation, said, "Competitive gaming has always had great players, great games and unforgettable champions. The Esports World Cup brings them together in one defining annual stage. For seven weeks in Paris, every title crowns its own winner, but every result also contributes to a bigger race: the Club Championship. That is what makes EWC different. It rewards not only individual brilliance, but the depth, consistency and ambition of an entire Club." HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan , Board Member, Esports World Cup Foundation, added, "EWC was born in Saudi Arabia from a bold belief that esports is a defining platform for the next generation of sports and entertainment, deserving a global stage equal to the passion of its players, Clubs, publishers and fans. Today, EWC has grown into much more than a tournament, it is a global platform that brings people together through gaming. Riyadh will always remain the home and foundation of the Esports World Cup, but our ambition has always extended beyond its borders. That ambition has brought us to Paris, marking an exciting new chapter for our community. I would like to thank President Emmanuel Macron and our friends in France for their support and partnership in making this moment possible. Together, we are demonstrating the unique power of esports to bring the world together." The 2026 Esports World Cup runs until August 23 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The event features competitions in titles including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, EA SPORTS FC 26 and PUBG MOBILE. It will be broadcast across more than 100 television, OTT and digital platforms in over 160 countries.