The French government has approved the budget for the Esports World Cup 2026. A total of €250 million (approximately 21 billion rubles) has been allocated for the organization of the World Cup in esports, which will cover more than 22 disciplines, including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and others.
The funds will be directed towards preparing venues, accommodating participants, infrastructure, and organizational expenses. The French government expects that hosting the championship will generate up to $600 million in revenue through tourism, the hospitality industry, new jobs, and related commercial activity.
Initially, the tournament was planned to be held in Saudi Arabia; however, it was moved to France amid the tense situation in the Middle East. Now, teams will require a Schengen visa to participate, which may create difficulties for some participants from certain regions. Potential visa challenges have already been faced by teams such as Team Falcons and BetBoom Team.
The venue for the Esports World Cup 2026 will be the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – the largest exhibition center in France. The championship will take place from July 6 to August 23, 2026. During the event, 75 million in prize money will be distributed, along with a 30 million club bonus fund.
It is worth noting that visa difficulties have already impacted the scene: earlier, PARIVISION missed the playoffs of BLAST Slam VII due to visa issues affecting some players – their slot was taken by Team Liquid.