Cristiano Ronaldo, Magnus Carlsen to continue on as Esports World Cup brand ambassadors

The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced that Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen will continue on as Global Brand Ambassadors of the Esports World Cup after renewing their mandates for the Esports World Cup 2026. Both Carlsen and Ronaldo will continue on as the face of the event and appear in various campaigns and advertisements for the Esports World Cup 2026. The Esports World Cup 2026 kicked off on July 8, 2026 and will go on until August 23, 2026.

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

Ralf Reichert, CEO, 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.”