France’s Minister of Sports, Youth, and Community Life, Marina Ferrari, attended the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) tournament currently taking place at Paris La Défense Arena and highlighted the event’s importance for the growth of the country’s esports industry.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the official described the Rocket League competition as one of the largest international esports events ever hosted in France. Ferrari also linked the tournament to the country’s broader ambitions for the coming years.
“Just days after the President of the Republic announced that Paris will host the next Esports World Cup in 2026, this competitive event confirms France’s ambitions: to become a major host nation for international sporting events,” she stated.
In addition, the minister expressed special thanks to BLAST and Epic Games, the organizers of the event, as well as to everyone involved in promoting what she called an “industry of the future.”
Ferrari’s statement naturally complements the biggest esports industry story of the week. On May 20, French President Emmanuel Macron officially confirmed that the large-scale multi-title Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris. The tournament, featuring a total prize pool of more than $75 million, was moved from Saudi Arabia due to instability in the Middle East.
As a reminder, Phantom recently parted ways with one of their players after reports surfaced that the team had been playing FACEIT matches instead of attending practice sessions.
