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RIYADH: Football legend and former Barcelona player Gerard Pique is bringing Kings League, the game that revolutionized online football gaming, to the Middle East and North Africa region, with �������� at its heart.

The Spanish defender inaugurated Kings League MENA last night as part of the ongoing Esports World Cup, where the new team presidents from the region were also announced.

Pique started Kings League in Spain in 2023, and after a successful first launch has since expanded to other leagues worldwide including Italy, Brazil, Japan, France, Germany, Hispanic America, and the US.

On how he envisions the Kings League gaming community to look like in the MENA region, Pique told Arab News: “Very young, very motivated, very committed to the product and the project.

“I’m sure that there will be a lot of intensity, a lot of clashes (between streamer fans), this is what we want.

“We want them to care and want to win, and that they dedicate everything they have to winning.”

The unconventional seven-a-side football game was designed with younger audiences in mind, adding more creativity and free reign with secret weapons or “golden cards,” unlimited substitutions, sin bins, and penalty shoot-outs after every draw.

Kings League was also created in a way that brings together fans with their most beloved content creators and streamers taking the role of team presidents in each region.

The MENA teams and their presidents were announced to be SXB FC, led by Ahmed Alqahtani from ��������, Ultra Chmicha led by Morroccan Ilyas Elmaliki, Red Zone led by Jordanian Maher Sultaneh, 3BS led by Jordanian Hani AlQoublam, FWZ FC led by Kuwaiti Fawaz Hamad, Turbo led by Egyptian Saleh Tarboun, and DR7 led by Saudi streamer Mafrah Aseeri.

Elmaliki, Morroco’s top streamer, was appointed president of Morocco’s national team in the Kings World Cup Nations held in Italy where his team made it all the way to the semifinals. Ultra Chmicha was later invited by Pique to join the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025 as the first wildcard team.

Alqahtani’s SXB FC was also picked as a wildcard for the Paris games, and their match against Jijantes FC drew a record breaking 950,000 live viewers, the tournament’s highest.

“We have amazing streamers,” Pique said. “They have huge communities that are very loyal to them.”

“They have to have good players because the level is very high in Kings League. But I know some of them, and I’m sure that that they will bring a lot of fun, a lot of entertainment and a good level of football.”

Fans can now submit their application and try their chance at getting drafted to join one of the official Kings League MENA teams, potentially later qualifying for the Kings World Cup Clubs or represent their country in the Kings World Cup Nations Brazil 2026.

Kings League MENA is a joint venture with SURJ Sports Investment as part of an ongoing effort to expand digital sports and entertainment in the region.

Having visited the Kingdom a few times before with Barcelona for the Spanish Super Cup, Pique also told Arab News that he is always “very happy when I come here.

“The food is amazing. And I think the people, you are very similar to Spanish people.

“When you arrive to the country, everything is very comfortable, so I’m enjoying it so much.”

RIYADH: Twisted Minds won the Call of Duty: Warzone tournament at the Esports World Cup 2025, lifting the trophy after an epic 10-game final.

The win is the first major tournament victory for all three players on the roster, despite each of them having storied careers.

This is the crowning moment the Twisted Minds players have been working towards for years, with this being the first LAN win for all three members of the team, despite each of them having been at the top of the Call of Duty: Warzone scene since its inception. Aydan Conrad, Riley Smith, and Benjamin Rosendahl were all on the podium at the Esports World Cup 2024 when members of two different teams, before building a new roster that has finally seen them take the final step.

Twisted Minds entered the event via the North American Qualifier as the fourth seed from the region. They had a strong showing in the group stage, finishing third and securing a spot in the final without having to play in the last-chance stage.

The ��������n organization came alive in the final, securing five top four finishes in the first six games to put them on match point. But with teams targeting them and Virtus.pro, who reached match point at the same time, it was not until Game 10 that Twisted Minds were able to secure the win they needed to lift the trophy.

Twisted Minds win the $250,000 first place prize, but for these three players, the opportunity to finally call themselves champions will be just as sweet.

“It’s my first LAN victory, you know, it means a lot to me,” Conrad said. “To have people in the stands watching, rooting for us, shout out to Twisted Minds and to everyone here, because without y’all, this is not possible without you guys. Thank you for making this the event it was.”

Smith takes home the Sony MVP award, thanks to his in-game prowess and successful plays throughout the tournament, winning $10,000 and the MVP medal as testament to his contributions.

“This is your goal, you start playing five years ago to win on the big stage, that’s where you want to be,” Smith said. “I know right now this is the best team I’ve ever played with.”

With the win Twisted Minds earned 1,000 Club Championship points, which puts them fifth in the overall standings. They are now just 200 points behind Virtus.pro, the side they stopped from gaining the full 1,000 points in Warzone. With Twisted Minds still competing in five more titles in the next two weeks of the Esports World Cup 2025, they could make a late charge for the Club Championship title.

Week five at the Esports World Cup 2025 takes place until August 10 with finals in EA Sports FC 25.