Esports World Cup 2026 Unveils Saudia Partnership and Custom-Branded Aircraft

The Esports World Cup (EWC) has announced Saudia as its official airline partner for the 2026 edition, marking the tournament's first-ever move outside Riyadh. The Saudi national carrier will play a central role in connecting players, fans, and event staff between Riyadh and Paris throughout the competition.

Saudia Unveils Branded EWC Aircraft

As part of the partnership, Saudia has rolled out a custom-wrapped aircraft, which is also the first commercial plane ever dedicated to an esports event. The jet was revealed at a ceremony in Jeddah and will operate daily Riyadh-Paris flights during the tournament, with the EWC-branded aircraft staying in service across Saudia's global network for the next two years.

Travelers on Saudia flights can tune into EWC content via the airline's inflight entertainment system, while select matches will also be broadcast in Saudia lounges. The airline has already transported thousands of staff, content creators, and fans to Paris, with more set to follow in the coming weeks.

Beyond travel, Saudia is deepening its esports engagement with a Fortnite tournament featuring a new map modeled after its branded aircraft. Winners will receive tickets to the Paris event. The initiative builds on a similar campaign in 2025 that drew hundreds of thousands of players.

The 2026 Esports World Cup runs through August 23 in Paris, featuring more than 2,000 players from over 100 countries competing across 24 titles for a record $75 million prize pool. The tournament is currently in Week 3. So far, it has crowned winners in VALORANT, Dota 2, League of Legends, and several other titles.

You can follow the action on the Strafe Esports tournament page as the EWC unfolds. 

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Featured Image Credit: Esports Foundation

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