Road to EWC Qualifiers at DreamHack Atlanta
Apr 15, 2026.
May 15–17 marks the next chapter in the Road to EWC, as the global journey arrives in Atlanta, welcoming a new wave of contenders ready to make their mark.
Building on the momentum from DreamHack Birmingham, Atlanta sets the stage for players in FATAL FURY: CotW, Street Fighter 6 and Chess, all competing for a spot on the world stage at the Esports World Cup 2026. This is where ambition rises, pressure builds, and the path to the world stage becomes real.
Cheer from the audience stands and support your favorite players as they fight for a spot at EWC 2026.
FATAL FURY: CotW Qualifiers
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves takes center stage at DreamHack Atlanta, where players will compete for direct qualification to the Esports World Cup 2026. This qualifier requires all players to attend in person, and all participants must hold a valid DreamHack festival ticket.
The Top 4 players will advance to EWC 2026.
Qualifier spots limited to 256 Players — Register early
A maximum of 256 players can compete. Early registration is highly recommended.
Sign up HERE.
Qualifiers Format
Stage #1 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination (DE) Bracket
- 16 players per pool from 256 players to 32 players
Stage #2 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination, Top 16
Finals – Top 8
- Finals - Double Elimination: 8 players
- TOP 4 Players qualify to EWC 2026
CHESS Qualifiers
Chess arrives at DreamHack as players go head-to-head in a high-stakes qualifier for the Esports World Cup 2026. Compete live, think ahead, and outplay your opponents move by move. Entry requires a valid DreamHack festival ticket. Only 4 players will earn their place.
Qualifier spots limited to 64 Players — Register early
Limited to 64 competitors, secure your spot early.
Sign up HERE.
Qualifiers Format
Stage #1- Group Stage
- Up to 4 Double Elimination Groups of 16 players
- Top 4 from each group advances to playoffs
- 2 Game per match
- Armageddon as tiebreaker
Stage #2 - Finals (Between 8 & 16 Players)
- Double Elimination Bracket
- 2 Game per match
- Armageddon tiebreaker
- Double Match + Armageddon as Grand Finals
- Top 4 qualify to Esports World Cup 2026
Street Fighter 6 Qualifiers
Compete in Street Fighter 6 at DreamHack Atlanta for a share of the $50,000 prize pool and a place at the Esports World Cup 2026. This is a live, in-person qualifier, entry requires a valid DreamHack festival ticket. The Top 4 players will qualify.
Qualifier spots limited to 512 Players — Register early
A maximum of 512 players can enter, register early to secure your spot.
Sign up HERE.
Qualifiers Format
Stage #1 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination (DE) Bracket
- 16 players per pool from 512 players to 32 players
Stage #2 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination, Top 32
Finals – Top 8
- Finals - Double Elimination: 8 players
- TOP 2 Players qualify to EWC 2026
TEKKEN 8 Qualifiers
Tekken 8 takes over DreamHack Atlanta, with up to 512 players chasing a place at the Esports World Cup 2026. Compete live on-site, only registered attendees with a valid DreamHack festival ticket can take part.
Only the Top 3 players will advance.
Qualifier spots limited to 512 Players — Register early
Early registration is highly recommended.
Sign up HERE.
Qualifiers Format
Stage #1 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination (DE) Bracket
- 16 players per pool from 256 players to 32 players
Stage #2 – Group Stage
- Double Elimination, Top 32
Finals – Top 16
- Finals - Double Elimination: 16 players
- TOP 3 Players qualify to EWC 2026
Rise Above in Atlanta
Will this be the event where new stars emerge? Will a familiar name defend their dominance?
Join us at DreamHack Atlanta to compete or cheer from the audience!
Latest News from EWC
2026
Rocket League at EWC26 Champions: Falcons soar above the rest
Team Falcons claimed a dominant Grand Final victory in Rocket League at EWC 26, sweeping Spacestation Gaming 4-0. The Saudi club’s star-studded lineup of twin brothers Yazid “Kiileerrz” Bakhashwin and Saleh “Rw9” Bakhashwin alongside Samy “dralii” Hajji took home the $400,000 first prize and 1,000 Club Championship points. Congratulations to Team Falcons.
2026
PMWC at EWC 26: S2G Esports Weathers the Storm
S2G Esports held on to claim victory after a marathon run of matches at the PUBG Mobile World Cup at Esports World Cup 2026. The Turkish organization reached Smash Rule match point after 16 games but could not immediately close out the tournament. Instead, S2G’s consistency and points total ultimately secured the championship. Congratulations to S2G Esports on the victory.
2026
Chess at EWC 26 Champion: Carlsen does it again
Magnus Carlsen proved his dominance over international chess once again, sweeping the Grand Final against Denis Lazavik to defend his title in Chess at EWC 26. Delivering an undefeated campaign across the entire tournament, the Norwegian grandmaster took home the $250,000 first prize while also securing 1,000 crucial Club Championship points for Team Liquid. Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen and Team Liquid on another historic EWC title.
2026
EWC 26 Fan Fest Week 5 Recap
Week 5 brought another wave of action to the Esports World Cup 2026, with Fan Fest once again serving as a meeting point for creators, developers, esports clubs and fans. From co-streams and player appearances to community events and hands-on experiences, Fan Fest continued to bring the wider gaming community into the heart of EWC.
