France’s sports ministry backs EWC 2026 Paris with official MoU signing

France is throwing governmental weight behind its biggest esports moment yet. The Esports Foundation and France's Ministère des Sports, de la Jeunesse et de la Vie associative — the country's Ministry of Sport, Youth and Community Life — have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to show their backing of the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, while building a long-term framework for esports development across the country, as shared by The Esports Foundation.

What the MoU actually commits to

The agreement, revealed on June 29, commits both parties to collaborative projects aimed at helping young people develop transferable skills through competitive gaming,