RLCS Paris Major proved Rocket League belongs in France, but it could have finally extinguished North America

There’s no simpler rivalry than a regional one, but after a decade of back-and-forth between North America and Europe – in particular, France – the RLCS Paris Major cemented that Rocket League came home.

Born out of a tiny studio in the US that was workshopping some extra mini games to port into Gears of War, Rocket League was born and raised in Satellite Beach, Florida. 

The deep roots of the ‘Soccar’ game as we know it were all American, from the game’s DNA to the first-ever RLCS World Championships in Los Angeles and the current World Champions, the high-octane game is the Texas Barbecue of American esports.

Or is it?

For nearly a decade, the grasp that the US had over the RLCS has been slipping, and off the back of two dynasties and the current creme de la creme of competitors, France has pulled the Uno reverse card out from the Statue of Liberty, and has stolen Rocket League from under Big Sam’s nose.

As expected, the US dominated Rocket League when it first came out, with the first RLCS World Championships going to the home teams in Los Angeles. But that prose was soon challenged by Europe, which had found a love for the game as it had for most esports, and the fabled, intertwined golden trophy began to be passed around from country to country.

That was, until Alexandre “Kaydop” Courant arrived. Known now as the Maradona or Babe Ruth of Soccar, Kaydop launched a dynasty that would span four years of dominance and six consecutive World Championship Grand Finals appearances, winning three and only having a fourth denied by the global pandemic. 

Fortunately for the US, the last Worlds before the lockdown was snatched from Kaydop’s hand by former teammate Pierre “Turbopolsa” Silfver, who had ported to America to bring the trophy back. 

But Kaydop’s brilliance brought a wave of aspiring young Frenchmen through to the RLCS, and backed by new communities and local tournament organisers (such as Rocket Baguette), the region was soon left waiting for the shackles of the pandemic to be lifted so that it could get back to the international stage. Although the legend himself had now passed the baton to Evan “M0nkey M00n” Rogez.

From there, the dubbed “Open Era” icon carried the French flame into battle against the US time after time again, and often came out on top. The inter-regional rivalry was alive and kicking, and France was on top more often than not. 

For years, North American Rocket League has faced one major issue. In Lehmann’s terms, the country is huge, and uprooting young teenagers, often school-age, to relocate them across the country to boot camps is almost impossible.

It’s a question I posed to Joseph “Noly” Kidd and Jack “ApparentlyJack” Benton three years ago, when the two British stars took the export route to play together in the States for Gen.G and won multiple titles and a Major. 

Back then, the only real competitive roster was G2 Esports, with Landon “BeastMode” Konerman, Daniel “Daniel” Piecenski, and Massimo “Atomic” Franceschi.

Fast forward to 2026, and the reigning World Champions are the exact same roster, albeit now operating under the NRG banner. Consistency combined with quality. Yet that’s almost impossible to replicate.

Noly claimed that for European players, it’s easy to move to a team facility, only a few hours away from home. Using NRG as an example, BeastMode is from Kentucky, a 32-hour drive, hardly a quick trip around the corner. It’s a complete overhaul of the senses.

Since the RLCS Open Era began, the talent pipeline in the US has been hard-stuck in Diamond. Exciting, young players burst onto the scene and immediately face the dilemma of being uprooted mid-11th Grade or putting Rocket League on the back burner. 

Case in point: 16-year-old Zachary “zach” Stone, formerly “Scrzbbles.” Having been slated as the next RLCS prodigy, he ‘retired’ from the game at the end of the 2025 season (then 15), citing schoolwork as the reason. He has since returned to the SpaceStation Gaming camp, but the summer off may have prevented him from becoming the centrepiece of an elite roster.

Across the pond, Team Vitality faced a similar prospect with destiny himself, Alexis “Zen” Bernier, which proved the difference. Having scouted him from the age of 13, Zen was brought into the team before he became eligible to play, with the promise that he had to finish school while under their contract. 

After agreeing and becoming of age, Zen went on to debut with back-to-back-to-back Regional wins, a Major win, and a World Championship. Nothing but success – but whose to say that if he faced a 32-hour commute across the US, Zen would have taken that leap of faith.

It’s a demographic issue that is not familiar with pillarstone American esports, such as Counter-Strike, but it has posed a threat to the home nation of Rocket League for the best part of five years, and it’s no surprise that France has taken the chance to usurp them with both hands.

There’s no easy fix for North America either. They are doomed. 

The Rocket League player base continues to be younger than any other esport, with the game’s entire simplistic nature lending itself to adolescent audiences. There have only been sporadic rising stars who have taken a wild plunge, but the geographical nature means teams simply can’t be formed, and its time NA accepts that they are no longer a force, but rather a pool of talent spread so wide that it’s impossible to be competitive on an international level.

Maybe the only real answer lies in a Collegiate-like circuit, bringing together local high-school stars, but that’s a whole new debate. For now, it will take a miracle for another NRG to be formed, and the entirety of NA’s success rides on their shoulders until the retirement home comes calling.

As to who can stop France, well, the American stalwarts of NRG stand the best chance, while the new pipeline from the Middle East has quickly challenged the status quo. What’s evident, though, is that Rocket League’s predominantly teenage breakthrough talent need to be harnessed in the right environment, surrounded by guidance, and close-knit countries like Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Spain.

The future of Rocket League is blue, white, and red, but with no stars.

There’s no place like home, right? Well, the RLCS Paris Major proved as much, as Rocket League saw a record crowd pack itself inside the La Defense Arena and be treated to a spectacle of homegrown talent. With three powerhouse teams in Vitality, Gentle Mates, and Karmine Corp all featuring, the crowd antics were festival-like. 

Cult followings celebrated Rocket League together with pyro, tifos, flags, and chants as if it were the national soccer team, and they were far from disappointed. If we had any doubts about France’s quality, they were short-lived, as five of the top six teams had French-speaking players or represented a French outfit, including all three finalists.

Dominance.

This was all epitomized by Epic Games’ recognition that Rocket League was home, using the Paris Major to announce its unprecedented first look at Unreal Engine 6. It could have aired in Boston. It could have aired at Worlds in Fort Worth. It could have even snubbed Rocket League altogether and been shown at Fortnite’s upcoming LAN in Germany.

But Epic knew its community and rewarded years of patience and passion with an insight into the future.

The Paris Major was the Coachella of Rocket League. While heavily-co-streamer-influenced viewership stats dipped slightly (still reaching the second-most-watched RLCS event of all time), it was a homecoming bonanza, and deservedly so. It launched off the back of greatness, built roots that secured its own future and prodigies, and provided us with the best fans a game could ask for.

Rocket League est à la maison.