Sports Minister André Fufuca received Saudi Arabian Ambassador Faisal Ghulam last Tuesday (25). During the meeting, they explored opportunities for cooperation in eSports.
Saudi Arabia, which will host major events such as the eSports World Cup in August 2025 and the eSports Olympic Games in 2027, has expressed interest in collaborating.
Fufuca emphasized the growth of eSports in Brazil: “For the first time, we have a specific board for eSports, officially recognized as a sport.
The International Olympic Committee also recognized this modality, announcing the eSports Olympic Games, confirming our decision.” Currently, Brazil is the largest eSports market in Latin America.
On the global stage, Brazil ranks 10th in game consumption and is the 5th largest mobile gaming market.
The Ministry of Sports, through the Esports Directorate created in 2024, integrating the National Secretariat for Sports Betting and Sports Economic Development, develops policies to improve the sport. In addition, it coordinates partnerships with public and private entities.
Faisal Ghulam highlighted: “We have a historic relationship with Brazil and we want to expand this sports partnership. There are many Brazilian athletes and coaches in our country, and we are ready to strengthen this cooperation.”
Growth of eSports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a boom in sporting events, having hosted over 100 international competitions recently. These include esports, football, motorsports, and other sports.
Since 2015, the number of sports federations in the country has tripled. The ambassador stressed: “Between 5% and 10% of our GDP goes to sports. We want a global sports hub.”
Therefore, it was agreed that the technical teams from the Ministry of Sports and the Embassy will continue the discussions. Therefore, the objective is to define actions and partnerships for the development of electronic games and other modalities in both countries.