VALORANT is one of the first games off the block at the Esports World Cup, with group stage play beginning on July 2.
Sixteen teams will compete across four groups, with the top two from each advancing to a single-elimination playoff bracket that gets underway on July 9. The $2 million prize pool on offer makes it one of the most lucrative standalone VALORANT events of the year. Whoever wins will take home a cool $600,000.
The competition will be streamed live on YouTube once again. With 24 different titles running concurrently across the EWC, dedicated streams ensure VALORANT coverage won't get lost in the shuffle.
Esports World Cup 2026 are revealed.
— ValorIntel (@ValorINTEL) June 27, 2026
16 teams fight for $2M. Top 2 from each group advance to single-elim Playoffs starting July 9.
🟦 Group A: EDward Gaming, Rex Regum Qeon, 100 Thieves, BBL Esports
🟥 Group B: Paper Rex, Team Vitality, Karmine Corp, NRG
🟨 Group C: G2… pic.twitter.com/iYOmPEIcOb
The full group breakdown
The draw, officially revealed ahead of the event, places the 16 competing teams into four groups.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | EDward Gaming, Rex Regum Qeon, 100 Thieves, BBL Esports |
| B | Paper Rex, Team Vitality, Karmine Corp, NRG |
| C | G2 Esports, Gentle Mates, Xi Lai Gaming, Nongshim RedForce |
| D | Team Heretics, MIBR, Global Esports, AG.JL |
If there’s a “group of death”, it’s probably Group B, where Paper Rex and NRG open against each other in a match that could set the tone for the entire bracket. The group also boasts a French derby between Vitality and Karmine Corp, which is sure to be hotly contested on their home turf.
Heretics looking to go back-to-back
Team Heretics, who arrive as defending champs, are in Group D with Global Esports, MIBR, and AG.JL. The group looks navigable on paper but knockout VALORANT has a habit of producing pure chaos.
Heretics' roster includes BenjyFishy, one of the highest-profile names in the European scene. MIBR, meanwhile, has Aspas fighting their corner, widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fraggers in the game.
The path to a repeat win won't be straightforward. After Paper Rex claimed the London Masters Finals heading into EWC week, with Leviathan taking the top spot, the competitive picture in VALORANT entering Paris is anything but settled.
Writer's take
Moving the event out of Riyadh is a significant logistical and cultural shift for the EWC brand. Paris is one of the most recognizable sporting and cultural destinations in the world, and hosting a multi-title esports event there represents a meaningful step in the tournament's ambition to grow its global footprint.
Group B is the one to watch. Vitality, Karmine Corp, Paper Rex and NRG in the same pool means we’re going to lose two high-quality rosters early. Heretics' route through Group D looks easier by comparison (if we can say that), and it could work in their favor; entering the single-elimination playoffs with momentum and minimal damage is the ideal setup for a title defense.
What's next
Group stage play runs from July 2, with the top two finishers from each pool locking in their playoff spots. The single-elimination bracket begins July 9, with all remaining matches heading toward a grand final that will determine whether Heretics can complete back-to-back EWC crowns, or whether a new champion claims VALORANT's biggest open-tournament prize of the summer.
