Champs-Élysées Transforms into Esports Hub for Nations Cup Reveal

Co-created with the Comité Champs-Élysées, the event moved competitive gaming beyond the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, offering an interactive experience featuring showmatches in EA SPORTS FC 26, Rocket League, and Trackmania. Hosted by Doigby and Kayané, the festival drew a crowd of enthusiasts and families to witness appearances by notable creators including Bigflo & Oli, Amine, and Samuel Étienne.

The centerpiece of the afternoon was the presentation of the Team France kit, designed by adidas. National Team Manager Bora "YellOwStaR" Kim and ambassador Kamel "Kameto" Kebir joined players on stage, signaling the start of a global rollout for the tournament. With the inaugural Esports Nations Cup scheduled for November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the partnership with adidas will eventually produce custom kits for over 100 participating countries. These jerseys feature arcade-inspired typography and sleeve emblems modeled after ENC medals, aiming to blend national pride with gaming aesthetics.

Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports Foundation, noted that the festival underscores the tournament's ambition to foster global community engagement. As the Esports World Cup stages events outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, this Parisian gathering highlights a strategy to broaden the reach of competitive gaming before the November tournament begins. The event also showcased the scale of the 2026 season, which includes a record US$75 million prize pool and participation from over 200 clubs.