In 2025, the sponsorship revenue of the Esports Foundation, the organization behind the Esports World Cup, exceeded $120 million. The figure was revealed by Mohammed Al Nimer, the company's Chief Commercial Officer, during an interview with Sport Business Club.
According to Al Nimer, sponsorship integrations remain one of the primary revenue drivers for major esports tournament operators.
The executive explained that the Esports Foundation offers multiple partnership tiers. The Global Partner status provides worldwide exposure across all of the foundation’s platforms and assets, requiring investments worth several million euros. Regional partners, meanwhile, focus on specific markets such as China or the Middle East.
For the French market, partnership packages are available at lower price points, ranging in the hundreds of thousands of euros due to the shorter preparation window before the event. Despite this, local brands and specialized agencies have already shown strong interest in collaborating with the organization.
Funding for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2026 is being fully secured by the Esports Foundation itself. The financing model is based on two main sources: commercial revenue streams, including media rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise, as well as support from the government of Saudi Arabia. However, Al Nimer emphasized that funding does not involve the country's Sovereign Wealth Fund (PIF).
The French government will not provide direct financial support for the event but is assisting with organizational matters through a dedicated interministerial task force responsible for visas, marketing initiatives, and venue access.
As a reminder, the Esports Foundation is investing €250 million into hosting the Esports World Cup in Paris.
