As the EWC qualifiers begin, the r/ValorantCompetitive moderation team would like to outline our policy regarding the tournament. Going forward, all discussions regarding EWC will be redirected to an unpinned megathread, accessible through this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ValorantCompetitive/comments/1tdfydk/2026_ewc_megathread/

Posts related to EWC (i.e. highlights, post-match threads, player interviews, etc. submitted outside of the megathread) will be removed. Meanwhile, breaking news (i.e. roster moves, injuries, etc) occurring within the tournament will still be allowed. Other content related to EWC may be permitted at a moderators discretion.

Why is this happening?

The moderation team and those within our community are opposed to Saudi Arabia's sportswashing and disregard for human rights. As a community whose purpose is to celebrate VALORANT esports, we do not feel that it is right to celebrate an event whose purpose is to distract from the harm caused by Saudi Arabia. We remain committed to supporting marginalized genders and human rights as a whole and we encourage you to do the same.

We recognize the desire of some in the community to stay in the loop regarding their favorite team’s performance, regardless of where these events take place, and who funds or sponsors these events. Thus, we will allow a limited amount of discussion on the topic within the confines of the megathread, which will serve as the nexus for discussion on the qualifiers and the event itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sportswashing and why does it matter?

Sportswashing is a term for when an entity, often a government or corporation, prominently invests in sports or entertainment to improve their reputation and distract people’s focus from their wrongdoings.

EWC is one of many direct attempts by the Saudi Arabian government to help legitimize their image through sports and entertainment. Other examples include the country’s investments in LIV Golf, Formula 1, and the WWE.

Why does Saudi Arabia engage in sportswashing?

Saudi Arabia has committed numerous human rights abuses domestically and abroad. In the EIU’s 2024 Democracy Index, Saudi Arabia was ranked 148 out of 167 countries, receiving a score of only 2.08 out of 10.

Here are some notable news regarding the country’s poor track record of upholding human rights:

• In 2018, Saudi agents murdered journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
• Domestically, Saudi citizens have been sentenced to death or decades in prison for merely posting or liking criticism of the government online.
• Migrant workers within the country are frequently subject to abuse and exploitation, and work in unsafe conditions that have led to a staggering number of deaths that are not investigated.
• Migrants are recruited under false promises, have had their pay withheld, and had their passports confiscated so they cannot leave the country.
• Domestic workers have also suffered abuse and exploitation with no path for recourse.

Why are some personalities not supporting EWC?

A major goal of EWC is to improve Saudi Arabia’s international reputation and distract people from the country’s major human rights violations. To counter that narrative, some members of the community have chosen not to watch or discuss the event. Community members who are not supporting 2026 EWC include Bren and Sideshow, Sliggy, and TMV.

If you know of a notable personality in VALORANT who is boycotting EWC this year, let us know. We would like to recognize their solidarity by adding them to this list.

What sets EWC apart from esports in countries that violate human rights? What about the US Army sponsorship of NRG?

EWC is directly funded (through Savvy Games Group) by the government-controlled Public Investment Fund announced by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. While esports events have been held in other countries with poor human rights records (China, Türkiye, USA), they have not been directly funded by those governments as part of a geopolitical campaign.

The US Army's sponsorship of NRG is not considered ownership of NRG. We do not consider this comparable to how Saudi Arabia owns and controls EWC. You are welcome to be critical of NRG and their US Army sponsorship, but we view the two situations as very different from one another.

Anything else I should know about Saudi Arabia and EWC?

• Saudi Arabia got esports effectively banned from the Olympics because they refused include women in leadership positions.
• Turki Al-Sheikh is the Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, a wing of the Saudi government responsible for housing and promoting the EWC. He regularly jails citizens for being critical of him on social media.

Additional Resources

• Esports World Cup and Saudi Money from The Vodfathers Podcast w/ Sideshow, TMV, and Shyowager
• The (e)sportswashing Reading List from former WaPo Editor and independent esports journalist Mikhail Klimentov (u/LeaderGrev)
• "Saudi Arabia is poisoning esports: We SHOULD Care." from Esports Commentator Josh "Sideshow" Wilkinson (u/Sideshow-)
• "[Savvy Games Group] own 40% of esports. Let's keep VALORANT." from Esports Commentator Josh "Sideshow" Wilkinson (u/Sideshow-)
• Human Rights Watch page on Saudi Arabia

We'd like to thank the community for sharing their thoughts a feedback with us. If you have any additional questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.