French Icons Karim Benzema and AmineMaTue to Face Off in EA SPORTS FC Showmatch at Esports World Cup 2026

PARIS, France (July 24, 2026) – Karim Benzema and AmineMaTue will go head-to-head in the EA SPORTS FC Showmatch at the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) on 26 July, leading teams featuring creators Buce and Brak in a special exhibition that brings together two French icons who have shaped different generations of fans through football and digital entertainment.

Taking place live on stage before thousands of fans in Paris and a global online audience, the annual Showmatch, cast by legendary Argentine footballer and commentator Omar da Fonseca and hosted by Loupiote, will see Karim Benzema team up with Bruce Grannec, while Amine joins forces with Brak, celebrating the growing connection between football, gaming and creator culture. As the Esports World Cup is hosted internationally for the first time, Paris provides the stage for two of France's most recognisable stars to come together for one of the tournament's signature events.

Now in its third year, the EWC Showmatch has become one of the tournament's defining crossover moments. Following appearances from Neymar Jr. and Team Falcons’ Mossad "Msdossary" Al-Dossary in EWC 2024 and Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká in EWC 2025, this year's edition celebrates France itself, bringing together the country's greatest footballers with one of the defining creators of a new generation.

Benzema, one of France's greatest footballers, won the 2022 Ballon d'Or and five UEFA Champions League titles during a career that established him among the finest forwards of his generation. Amine has become one of France's most influential digital creators, bringing together millions of fans through live streaming, football content and major live events. Bruce Grannec is one of the most decorated players in competitive football gaming history and now one of France's leading EA SPORTS FC creators, while Brak has spent more than a decade as one of the country's leading EA SPORTS FC creators and broadcasters.

The Showmatch marks another connection between Benzema and the Esports Foundation. Cristiano Ronaldo, who won more than a dozen trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles alongside Benzema at Real Madrid, serves as the Foundation's Global Ambassador, alongside Game Ambassadors Faker and Magnus Carlsen.

"The Esports World Cup celebrates the people and communities shaping global competition today," said Mike McCabe, Deputy CEO and COO of the Esports Foundation. "Karim Benzema and AmineMaTue have each inspired millions in different ways. One through an extraordinary football career, the other by building one of France's most influential creator communities. Bringing them together in Paris reflects how sport, gaming and digital culture increasingly share the same stage."

The EA SPORTS FC Showmatch forms part of football week at the Esports World Cup 2026 alongside the EA SPORTS FC Pro World Championship, where the world's best players compete for the world title while celebrating football culture on and off the virtual pitch.

Hosted in Paris from 6 July through 23 August, the Esports World Cup 2026 is the world's largest esports event, bringing together more than 2,000 players, 200 Clubs and competitors from more than 100 countries across 25 tournaments in 24 games, competing for a record-breaking $75 million prize pool.

To learn more about the Esports World Cup 2026, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow the Esports Foundation on LinkedIn.

About The Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world's top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Hosted in Paris, France, in the summer of 2026, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. esportsworldcup.com

Esports World Cup media contact:
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