- Published
There's a World Cup going on. It's generated a fair bit of controversy, and thousands of French fans are planning to watch the contest.
But it's not the one you're (probably) thinking of.
The Esports World Cup, or EWC, gets under way in Paris this week, after a last-minute move from its usual home of Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia.
Organisers took the decision to relocate the massive tournament to the French capital due to safety concerns over the ongoing conflict between the USA and Iran in the Middle East.
They say finding a suitable venue and installing all the equipment required to broadcast the contest, watched by millions worldwide, in just two months has been a huge undertaking.
For many fans, it's made it possible for them to attend a previously inaccessible event.
But it's also raised questions over the future of the EWC, which has been criticised since it was launched over its links with Saudi Arabia.
The tournament is run by the Esports Foundation, which describes itself as a non-profit organisation. It was created with the support of the Saudi government, and the EWC launched with an announcement from Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
It has been a part of the Kingdom's push to become a major player in global gaming - a strategy described by some as "sportswashing".
Critics claim it's an attempt to improve the country's international reputation and distract from complaints about its human rights record and anti-LGBT laws.
It's an accusation the country has spent years denying.
Though some players, commentators and fans have boycotted the EWC because of Saudi Arabia's involvement, it still proves popular.
Teams have previously told BBC Newsbeat they "can't afford to ignore" the contest and a potential share of its $75m (£50m) prize pot, as funding for esports has declined.
Despite the tournament's name, players in the EWC don't compete for their countries but as individuals or in teams.
They fight it out across popular video games including Call of Duty and League of Legends.
Taking place over seven weeks, organisers say the event attracts 2,000 players from 100 countries, with some of the world's top esports stars among them.
Esports Foundation COO and deputy CEO Mike McCabe says the biggest challenge when relocating the event to Paris's Porte de Versailles exhibition centre was time.
McCabe says the foundation managed to secure the venue before setting about the task of installing workstations, camera equipment and screens required to stage and broadcast the EWC.
"It's a massive undertaking," he says.
"We have enough cable powering all of these incredible technical systems to get basically from London to Birmingham and back again."
The French government also supported the relocation, helping to arrange visas for players, after president Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision to host the EWC in the country, external.
The other issue was getting fans to show up.
"You do still need people here to watch it in person to get that atmosphere," says McCabe.
He insists ticket sales have been strong, with some sold-out events on the schedule already - something he puts down to European fans taking advantage of the new location.
"We saw huge demand from the French clubs in really bringing their fans here, and they're some of the most vocal and passionate esports fans in the world," says McCabe, adding that spectators from Germany and the UK have also been buying tickets.
For esports fans Chess, 29, and Julia, 22, it's a rare chance to watch some of the top players compete on Apex Legends, their favourite esports game.
"I would say Apex has one of the best competitive scenes ever," says Chess.
"The atmosphere is amazing. Every single time a team wins the whole stadium erupts, and it's just amazing."
Julia says the EWC is more appealing to her than the football World Cup.
"Watching football is mostly just watching 11 people run after a ball, while here you have constant action, pure, the atmosphere is amazing, everybody is cheering, everybody is hyped.
"You have a lot of times where you're just cheering for the team that's doing the best. So if a team is playing amazing, no matter which team you are for, everybody cheers. And it's just amazing."
Jenny, 24, has travelled from the south of France, near Montpelier, and is also in town to watch some of her favourite Apex Legends players.
She says she's a "huge fan" of the first-person battle royale game and has competed in events herself, so attending the EWC in Paris was a no-brainer.
"I was like, OK, so we have the EWC in France. I have to go there. I need to not miss it.
"So I booked my tickets right away and came."
Jenny says she will be backing the home side.
"Since I'm French, I'm supporting the French team, TLN Pirates," she says.
The move out of Riyadh has also benefited some of the players too, especially those based in Europe who now won't need to travel nearly as far.
For Team Vitality, based in Paris, it's all now happening just a few Metro stops away from their training camp.
Nikita Sirmitev, aka Derke, is one of Vitality's pro players competing in first-person shooter Valorant.
The 23-year-old says this will be his first chance to perform in front of French fans.
"I'm usually the player they cheer against, usually playing on someone else's home turf," he says.
"But now I'm getting a chance to play on my home turf."
Vitality's CEO, Fabien "Neo" Devide, says the location change has made it "really easy" for the team, but says it does bring some challenges.
"The entire world will be in our hometown, so we have to welcome them and make a lot of extra effort," he says.
"But it's a massive opportunity."
Devide says France has a strong esports scene recognised by the French government and is confident the country will be a great venue for the tournament.
As things stand, the Esports Foundation has insisted the move to Europe will be short-lived, and it plans to return to Riyadh next year.
It had originally stated a desire to stage the EWC in other countries, but had made clear Saudi Arabia would be its home for a while, and plans to hold sister event, the Esports Nations Cup, in Saudi Arabia as planned this November.
Fans and commentators who have previously boycotted the EWC have urged others to continue doing so this year, despite the change of venue.
The Esports Foundation has always insisted everyone is welcome at their events, including tournaments hosted in Saudi Arabia.