2026/07/08 19:47

The 2026 edition sees the return of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and Norwegian international chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen as global ambassadors for the Esports World Cup, as their careers embody the highest levels of competitive sporting excellence in football and chess. The participation of these two stars reflects the growing status of the tournament and its impact on the sports, gaming, and global culture sectors, as well as its role in bringing together elite players, clubs, content creators, fans, and global icons on a shared competitive platform.

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The Club Championship is a central pillar of the Esports World Cup, as the only multi-game tournament in the esports sector. Over seven weeks, clubs will compete to earn points from their participation in various games to win the Club Championship and claim the title of the best esports club in the world. A total of $30 million from the tournament's $75 million prize pool will be allocated to the Club Championship standings, with $7 million going to the winning club. Saudi team Falcons has won this prize twice after winning the Club Championship in the 2024 and 2025 editions, and in the 2026 tournament it seeks to retain its title and claim a third consecutive victory. Fans in more than 160 countries will be able to follow the Esports World Cup competitions live through over 100 broadcast and digital on-demand partners, streaming platforms and digital services, with over 7,000 hours of live programming produced throughout the tournament. Coverage is available in more than 40 languages, enabling the 2026 Esports World Cup to reach global audiences through international broadcasting, regional partners, and the platforms that esports fans use to watch their content.

The event features 25 tournaments across 24 of the world's leading esports games, including: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA SPORTS FC 26, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Fortnite, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG MOBILE, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six Siege X, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, Tekken 8, Trackmania, and VALORANT.

With 3.6 billion players worldwide, gaming has become a global language that brings people together across continents, cultures, and communities. The Esports World Cup provides this community with its premier annual competition and a shared platform where the world's best players, clubs, and games gather to help shape the future of esports.