HRH Crown Prince MBS Named Board of Trustees Chair for Esports World Cup Foundation

The Saudi Arabian cabinet has appointed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) as the Chair of the newly established Board of Trustees for the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF). This appointment, announced in September 2025 following a government cabinet session in Riyadh, mandates a three-year term for the board. The move signals a significant shift in the governance of the foundation, which has previously maintained that it operates independently of the Saudi government despite receiving funding from the nation’s Public Investment Fund.

This development further integrates the Saudi state and its leadership into the global esports ecosystem. The Crown Prince already serves as the Chairman of the Board for Savvy Games Group, a PIF-owned entity that controls the ESL FACEIT Group, a major operator of international competitive gaming circuits. The consolidation of these leadership roles complicates the foundation's prior claims of non-profit autonomy and highlights the increasing influence of Saudi state-backed projects within the industry.

The appointment occurs alongside other major acquisitions in the sector, such as the purchase of the Evolution Championship Series organizer, RTS, by the Saudi-backed Qiddiya project. These activities continue to draw scrutiny from international human rights organizations, which frequently characterize such investments as efforts to utilize high-profile entertainment and esports events to improve the nation's global reputation. The specific composition of the new Board of Trustees remains undisclosed, continuing a trend of limited transparency regarding the foundation’s internal governance.