The Esports Foundation announced on July 21, 2026 an expanded partnership with Saudia, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, naming it the Official Airline of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) — the tournament’s first international edition, held in Paris after previous editions took place in Riyadh.
At an official ceremony held at Saudia Technic in Jeddah, attended by government representatives, partners, media and content creators, Saudia unveiled the world’s first commercial aircraft dedicated to an esports event. The EWC-branded aircraft will operate daily flights on the Riyadh–Paris route throughout the tournament, and will continue flying across Saudia’s international network for the next two years as a long-term symbol of the partnership.
The partnership covers travel for players, Clubs, event staff, media, content creators and fans between Riyadh and Paris, along with EWC-related content — including the documentary “Esports World Cup: Level Up” — available through Saudia’s BEYOND inflight entertainment system, and selected live tournament broadcasts shown in Saudia lounges. It also includes a community Fortnite tournament featuring a new map with a branded airport and Saudia aircraft inspired by the real-life EWC livery, with winners receiving tickets to attend EWC 2026 in Paris in person.
Francois Desir, Director of Sponsorship and Advertising at the Esports Foundation, said: “The Esports World Cup has always been about bringing people together through a shared passion for gaming… our expanded partnership with Saudia allows us to extend that experience beyond the competition, connecting communities from Saudi Arabia to Paris.” Ibrahim Binaquil, Marketing Head at Saudia Group, added: “The Esports World Cup reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in bringing people together through world-class experiences… our role extends beyond travel to connecting people with experiences that create lasting memories and strengthen cultural exchange.”
The Esports World Cup 2026 runs in Paris through August 23, welcoming more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries competing across 24 games and 25 tournaments for a prize pool exceeding $75 million. The renewed partnership follows the success of last year’s edition, which welcomed more than 3 million visitors to Riyadh, and builds on the original 2025 partnership agreement between Saudia and EWC.
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