Cristiano Ronaldo, Magnus Carlsen to remain Esports World Cup brand ambassadors

The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced that football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen will remain the Global Brand Ambassadors of the Esports World Cup, both having renewed their mandates for the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Carlsen and Ronaldo will headline various campaigns and advertisements for the 2026 Esports World Cup, which kicked off on July 7 and is scheduled to conclude on August 23, 2026.

The 2026 Esports World Cup is being held in Paris, France, shifting away from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the first two editions had been held. The tournament features a total of 25 events across 24 esports titles.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, commented:

“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.”