Jul 05, 2026.
The group stage is complete, and only eight teams remain. VALORANT at EWC 26 now shifts to the single-elimination playoffs at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, where every match is win-or-go-home in the race for the biggest share of the $2 million prize pool.
A lot has changed since Team Heretics won the inaugural VALORANT title at EWC 25. The competitive landscape has shifted, new contenders have emerged, and the roster has seen one change since its championship run in Riyadh. Even so, Heretics has looked every bit like a title contender, finishing 2-0 in Group D with victories over AG.AL and MIBR.LOS. Now back in the playoff bracket, the defending champions are three wins away from another Esports World Cup title.
Team Vitality has never reached the VALORANT playoffs at the Esports World Cup, but this year's roster has quickly established itself as a contender. After a significant overhaul ahead of the 2026 season, the French club topped its group with a 2-0 record, defeating Karmine Corp and NRG. Now, with the playoffs taking place on home soil in Paris, Vitality has a chance to make its deepest run at the tournament yet.
100 Thieves has taken a big step forward from last year's Esports World Cup. After an early exit at EWC 25, the American club entered 2026 with a revamped roster that has delivered immediate results. Fresh off Independence Day celebrations back home, 100 Thieves finished 2-0 in the group stage with victories over RRQ and BBL to secure a playoff berth. Now, the new-look roster has an opportunity to turn a promising rebuild into the club's best Esports World Cup finish yet.
Gentle Mates finished the group stage 2-0, securing wins over XLS and Nongshim RedForce. The mixed-European roster has been building form through 2026 and now moves into the single-elimination playoffs in Paris. With VALORANT at EWC 26 shifting to the Expo Porte de Versailles, the French club joins the home crowd storyline alongside Team Vitality as the bracket tightens and every match becomes elimination.
The Club Championship standings are now in focus as EWC 26 opens its first wave of competition. With last year’s top clubs back in contention, VALORANT offers an early opportunity to set the tone for the summer-long race. Among them, leading clubs like Team Vitality have a chance to establish an early advantage before the broader slate of tournaments begins to unfold.
2026
Esports World Cup Trophy Award Ceremony crowns AG.AL
Thousands of competitors have traveled to the Esports World Cup 2026 in search of glory and millions in prize money, but in the end there could only be one winner of the Club Championship. The trophy award ceremony celebrated AG.AL as the Club Championship winner while honoring the achievements of each and every player involved.
2026
Notable Stories of EWC 26 Week 7
Week 7 of the Esports World Cup 2026 is officially in the books and with it, the EWC comes to a close. The final week saw champions crowned in Fortnite, Trackmania, CS2 and Crossfire, bringing one last wave of high-stakes action, dramatic finishes and standout performances. After seven weeks of competition, the Club Championships winner has been crowned, but let's not forget about all the action from this final week.
2026
CS2 at EWC 26: Spirit close out the event with a win
Team Spirit has defeated FUT Esports in the Grand Finals of Counter-Strike 2 at the Esports World Cup 2026. The finals reached their pinnacle at the Accor Arena, in Paris, France, marking the thrilling conclusion to seven-weeks of competition at EWC 26. Congratulations to Team Spirit.
2026
EWC 2026 Week 7 Champions Recap
Week 7 of the Esports World Cup 2026 saw the crowning of four new champions, in Fortnite, Crossfire, Trackmania, and Counter-Strike 2. The final week of the tournament also decided the Club Championship, where a new club was crowned for the first time in EWC history. Here’s a look back at every champion from EWC 26 Week 7.