Following a decision by the Esports Foundation (EF), the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, has transitioned to the French capital for its 2026 edition. The move, which aligns with EF’s long-term vision to turn EWC into a global platform for esports, bringing the event to major cities around the world over time, has set the stage for an unprecedented operational masterclass.
Important to this transition is ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the official operating partner of the EWC, which has seamlessly activated its global infrastructure to help relocate the multi-title event to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles without compromising on the elite quality fans, players, and publishers expect.
Moving an event of this scale at short notice represents a large operational pivot for the company. Rather than scaling back, EFG has worked to support the Esports Foundation to fully realize its grand vision. The EWC remains the most prestigious tournament on earth, offering a record-breaking $75 million prize pool across more than 24 competitive titles.
EFG’s role has been to turn this high-stakes decision into reality. What makes the achievement remarkable is the sheer density of EFG’s summer calendar. Just recently, on June 21, EFG wrapped up the historic Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne Major 2026 inside Germany’s sold-out LANXESS Arena.
To dismantle one of the year’s largest arena productions in Germany and, in less than two weeks, stand up the operational backbone of the world’s biggest esports event is a feat unprecedented in the industry. It requires an elite, interconnected network of organizers, tournament directors, and broadcast professionals moving in perfect synchronization.
