The Counter-Strike 2 tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026 brings 32 of the world's top teams to Paris, France, competing for a $2.8 million total prize pool and crucial club points. The event runs from August 12 to August 23, 2026, split between the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for the group stage and the Accor Arena for the final day.
Quick Facts
- Dates: August 12 to 23, 2026
- Location: Paris, France (Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and Accor Arena)
- Prize Pool: $2,800,000 total ($600,000 for the champion)
- Teams: 32 competing rosters
Tournament Format and Schedule
The competition begins with a GSL-format group stage from August 12 to 17. The 32 teams are divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D). Opening matches are best-of-one series, while all remaining group stage matches are best-of-three. The top four teams from each group advance to the single-elimination playoffs.
Playoffs run from August 19 to 23, with every match played as a best-of-three, culminating in a best-of-five grand final.
Competing Teams and Defending Champions
The MongolZ return to defend their title under a slightly different roster featuring bLitz, Techno4K, 910, Tikuak, and DarkMeister, having qualified through VRS Asia in June 2026.
Top contenders attending via VRS Global qualification include Team Vitality (apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz), Team Spirit (magixx, zont1x, donk, sh1ro, tN1R), Team Falcons (NiKo, TeSeS, m0NESY, kyousuke, karrigan), Natus Vincere (b1t, Aleksib, iM, w0nderful, makazze), MOUZ (torzsi, xertioN, Spinx, xelex, PR), and last year's runner-up Aurora Gaming (XANTARES, Wicadia, woxic, Jimpphat, kyxsan).
How to Watch
Fans can follow all matches live through the official Esports World Cup broadcast channels:
- Twitch A Stream
- Twitch B Stream
- YouTube Official Channel