Phygital International, the official organizer and rights holder for Kazakhstan’s Games of the Future 2026, has dropped a full slate of 15 sponsors and partners backing the tournament. And with Samruk-Kazyna onboard (the country's sovereign wealth fund and its single largest state investment vehicle) the event carries the official branding "Games of the Future 2026, Powered by Samruk Kazyna."
The announcement shows the sheer depth of national investment Kazakhstan is pouring into phygital sport as it prepares to host 800-plus athletes from more than 50 countries competing across eight disciplines for a total prize pool of $4.75 million.
Who's backing the event
The sponsor structure is broken down into three tiers. Samruk-Kazyna sits at the top as title sponsor; below it, seven companies are listed as general sponsors, and another seven serve as official sponsors.
The general sponsor group reads like a cross-section of Kazakhstan's economy:
| Sponsor | Sector |
|---|---|
| Halyk Charitable Fund | Philanthropy / social welfare |
| Bank CenterCredit | Commercial banking |
| Alatau City Bank (formerly Jusan Bank) | Retail / commercial banking |
| Kazzinc | Zinc, copper, and precious metals mining (Glencore group) |
| Solidcore Resources (formerly Polymetal) | Gold mining |
| Freedom Holding / Freedom Bank Kazakhstan | Brokerage and investment banking |
| Yandex Go | Ride-hailing and delivery |
Official sponsors round out the lineup with infrastructure and consumer-facing names: Beeline Kazakhstan (mobile network), Lancaster Group (investment and real estate) BI Group (construction and real estate), Air Astana, the country's flag carrier airline, and Kazakhtelecom (national telecom).
What's actually at stake on the competition side
Games of the Future 2026’s competitive program is shaping up with some serious top-tier esports talent. Dota 2 carries a $1 million prize pool on its own, with 16 teams competing in a modified GSL group stage across four groups of four before a single-elimination playoff starts August 2 and climaxes on August 5 at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.
The PUBG: Battlegrounds Battle Royale bracket also carries a tantalizing $1 million purse and brings together a field that includes Team Falcons, Team Vitality, T1, Virtus.pro, Geekay Esports and Twisted Minds. FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves-based Phygital Fighting and Counter-Strike 2-based Phygital Shooter add another $500,000 and $150,000 to the overall pot.
On the physical-sport side, Phygital Football pits UFL against live 5-a-side matches, with Peñarol, Kings League club LOS TRONCOS FC and Orlando Pirates Fives just some of the teams looking to win $625,000. Phygital Basketball — combining 3on3 FreeStyle with a real-court 2v2 format — features Valencia Basket, PBC Astana and Boca Juniors for a $400,000 share.
John Hewitt, International Marketing & Communications Director at Phygital International, said, "This year's Games will showcase the incredible breadth of talent across the phygital movement, bringing together iconic sporting clubs, world champions and some of the biggest names in esports on one global stage."
The phygital format, briefly explained
For all of you new to the concept, phygital sports asks athletes to compete first in a video game version of a sport before taking to the real-world for a physical showdown. The combined score from both stages determines the winner. It's a unique format that mixes together various skillsets, both mental and physical, and sees esports and traditional athletics intersect, with Games of the Future the biggest world stage for it right now.
The 2026 edition spans eight disciplines in total, mixing established esports titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds with phygital hybrids including Just Dance-based Phygital Dancing.
Why this sponsor list is notable
Having a sovereign wealth fund as a title sponsor is unusual in esports or phygital events. In fact, it hardly ever happens, with Samruk-Kazyna’s involvement pointing to government-level buy-in for the 2026 edition that goes well beyond a single ministry signing off on a hosting deal.
The event is organized jointly by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Phygital International, and the World Phygital Community (WPC), the non-profit body that sets the rules and standards for phygital competition globally. For a growing format still establishing its global identity, such institutional backing could be key.
Astana itself is increasingly positioned as a venue for major international events, including a tennis ATP 250 event held annually in the early autumn. Anyone who’s paid a visit in recent years or had a quick look on Google Maps can’t have failed to note the city's futuristic architecture and rapid development, much of it built within the last two decades. It’s primed as an international destination with a profile that fits what Games of the Future is trying to project.
Competition at Games of the Future 2026 begins July 29 in Astana, with the full event running through August 9.
