IESF launches bidding process for 2025 and 2026 esports events

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has begun its host city bidding process for the 2025 and 2026 World Esports Championship and Regional Qualifiers.

The 2024 iteration will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later this year and its 2023 event was held in Iasi, Romania.

According to a release, the federation is open to ‘any cities’ interested in hosting the cross-title event, welcoming inquiries ‘from all potential hosts to explore the opportunities and benefits of bringing these premier esports events to their locations.’

Running annually since 2009, the World Esports Championship is an event that features tournaments covering a range of esports titles. IESF’s member national esports federations send teams representing their respective countries to compete against each other.

Titles set to feature in the 2024 World Esports Championship include Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile.

On the search for the next host cities, Boban Totovski, General Secretary of IESF, commented: “After Bali, Iasi, and Riyadh this year, we are all looking forward to our next host for the 17th World Esports Championship.

“We already have many cities waiting for the process to start bidding and we are all very excited to start the negotiations and discover where will the IESF flag go on the 19th of November in Riyadh, on the closing ceremony”

In May, the Russian Esports Federation (RESF) refused to have its players compete under a neutral flag, explaining that it ‘would not abandon’ its flag and anthem to compete in the World Esports Championship. The IESF had previously barred Russian competitors from taking part in events following Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The new request for Russian players to compete under a neutral flag came as a result of the RESF opening offices in territories internationally recognised as Ukrainian.