The Esports World Cup Will Move Back to Riyadh and Stage Counter Strike in Late July Next Year
The Counter-Strike 2 event keeps its 32-team format and US$2 million prize pool, with four places reserved for an open qualifier in Riyadh.
The Esports World Cup will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027, with its Counter-Strike 2 tournament scheduled for 20 July to 1 August, according to details published on 14 September 2026.
HLTV reported that the 2027 event will keep this year's expanded 32-team format and a US$2 million prize pool. Twenty places will go to teams through global Valve ranking invites, with two further invites each for North America, South America and Asia, plus two wildcard spots.
The remaining four places will be decided by an open qualifier at the Esports Boulevard in Riyadh from 16 to 18 July. HLTV said the expanded format proved a success this year and generated significant interest from the community, particularly through the open qualifier.
The 2026 edition was relocated from Riyadh to Paris. Dust2.us reported that the move to a late July slot for 2027 is intended to place the event in the middle of the competitive calendar, following the summer break that players take each year.
The 2028 edition is tentatively scheduled for 14 to 30 July, also in Riyadh, with further details to be announced later. The Counter-Strike calendar before then includes the PGL Major Singapore at the end of 2026 and two Majors in 2027, in Buenos Aires and Shanghai.