Esports World Cup 2026 moved to Paris; CS:GO doubles
Event moved from Riyadh to Paris because of the Iran conflict; CS:GO expands to 32 teams with $2 million prize and a planned LAN open qualifier.
The Esports World Cup Foundation has relocated the 2026 Esports World Cup to Paris, citing unsettled security and political conditions related to regional tensions. The change was made less than two months before the tournament’s July 6 start date.
The festival will run seven weeks, feature 24 game titles and carry a total prize pool of $75 million. The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competition is scheduled for the final two weeks, August 12-23.
The CS:GO field will expand to 32 teams, doubling last year’s field, and the prize pool will increase by $750,000 to $2 million. Four tournament berths are planned to be awarded through a non-BYOC LAN open qualifier that could accept up to 128 teams, although the qualifier’s format or timing may change because of the venue relocation.
Most main-event spots will be allocated by the global VRS ranking system, which will supply 21 berths. North America, South America and Asia are each slated to receive two regional invites. The final slot is reserved for the winner of the Hero Esports Asian Champions League, a $150,000 event currently taking place in Shanghai.
Under Valve’s rules, the Esports World Cup must obtain an exception from the developer to run the CS:GO tournament at a different location or with an altered format. Valve’s exceptions file was last updated seven months ago; no exception decision has been announced.
Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert had publicly expressed hope that the third edition could still be held in Riyadh before organizers secured a Paris venue. Organizers say the overall timetable and lineup of 24 games will proceed as planned, while operational details tied to the venue change, including LAN qualifier logistics, are still being finalized.
Articles by this author
