The 2026 Dota 2 Esports World Cup is officially underway in Paris, France. Running from July 7 to July 19, the tournament gathers 24 of the world's top squads to battle for a $2 million prize pool. Defending champions Team Spirit are looking to retain their title against a field of challengers that includes high-stakes competitors like Team Falcons, Xtreme Gaming, and Team Liquid.
Tournament Format and Stages
The competition is split into three distinct phases to determine the eventual winner:
- Group Stage (July 7–12): 24 teams are divided into four groups of six. Each group follows a round-robin format with two-game series. The top team from each group advances directly to the playoffs.
- Survival Stage (July 14–15): Teams placing second, third, and fourth in their groups compete in a single-elimination bracket. Fourth-place teams face third-place teams, with the winners moving on to challenge the second-place finishers in best-of-three matches.
- Playoffs (July 16–19): The four winners from the Survival Stage join the four group winners in a single-elimination bracket. All playoff matches are best-of-three, culminating in a best-of-five grand final.
Competing Teams and Rosters
The field features 12 teams invited via the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Leaderboard and 11 squads that secured their spots through regional qualifiers, alongside the defending champions, Team Spirit.
| Team | Roster |
|---|---|
| Team Spirit | Yatoro, Larl, Collapse, not me, rue |
| Team Falcons | skiter, Malr1ne, ATF, Cr1t-, Sneyking |
| Team Liquid | m1CKe, Nisha, Ace, Boxi, tOfu |
| Xtreme Gaming | Ame, NothingToSay, Xxs, fy, xNova |
| 1w Team | Pure, bzm, 33, Ari, Whitemon |
| PVISION | Satanic, No[o]ne-, Noticed, 9Class, Dukalis |
Prize Distribution
Beyond the $750,000 top prize, the tournament rewards top-tier finishes with both cash and EWC Club Points:
- Champion: $750,000 (1,000 points)
- 2nd Place: $340,000 (750 points)
- 3rd Place: $200,000 (500 points)
- 4th Place: $120,000 (300 points)
- 5th-8th Place: $70,000 (200 points)
For more updates on top-tier competitive play, check out our latest Esports coverage.