FIFAe Finals 2026 Postponed in Saudi Arabia

FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The tournament had been scheduled for Oct. 16-25, but organizers have not announced a replacement date.

The decision followed a review of regional developments and their effect on travel, accommodation and other event arrangements. FIFA and the federation will provide further updates, according to a joint statement.

“FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have announced the postponement of the FIFAe Finals 2026, originally scheduled to take place in Jeddah from 16 to 25 October,” the statement read. The organizations cited “recent developments in the region and their impact on the logistical arrangements required to stage the tournament.”

The postponement followed reports that most participating teams had withdrawn because of security concerns in Saudi Arabia linked to the ongoing regional conflict. The reports also cited concerns about player safety.

Other esports events have been affected by the regional situation. Major disruptions to air travel led the Esports Foundation to move the Esports World Cup, a separate tournament series, from Riyadh to Paris earlier this year.

In August, the foundation postponed the first Esports Nations Cup, a national-team tournament scheduled for Riyadh in November. The event was rescheduled for November 2027. Organizers cited an “ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation.”