Counter-Strike 2 Esports World Cup Grand Final moves to Paris' iconic Accor Arena

The championship final on August 23 will bring this year's Esports World Cup to a close, while also deciding the final destination of the lucrative Club Championship title.

The move marks Counter-Strike's return to the Accor Arena for the first time since it hosted the final CS:GO Major in 2023.

That event saw Team Vitality lift their first Major trophy in front of a home crowd, bringing an end to the CS:GO Major era before the transition to Counter-Strike 2.

Now, the French organisation could once again find itself competing for silverware in the same arena, with both the Counter-Strike 2 title and valuable Club Championship points on the line.

Counter-Strike 2 tournament expands at Esports World Cup 2026

This year's competition is the biggest Counter-Strike tournament ever held at the Esports World Cup.

The field has expanded to 32 teams, with the event running across two weeks. Twenty-eight teams qualified through the Valve Regional Standings, while another four places will be decided through a 128-team open qualifier in Paris between August 7-9.

Following the group stage, the top 16 teams will progress to a single-elimination playoff bracket before the Grand Final at the Accor Arena.

The competing teams will battle for a share of a $2 million prize pool, matching the largest prize fund in Counter-Strike 2 history.

Club Championship race could be decided in Paris

Beyond the Counter-Strike trophy itself, the tournament could prove decisive in the race for the Esports World Cup Club Championship.

Major organisations including Team Falcons, Team Vitality and Natus Vincere are all expected to challenge deep into the event, with valuable Club Championship points available throughout the competition.

Falcons enter the tournament as the reigning Counter-Strike Major champions, but after a slower-than-expected start to this year's Club Championship standings, the pressure will be on to deliver another strong performance.

With the Esports World Cup approaching its conclusion, the Counter-Strike 2 Championship could ultimately determine which organisation is crowned the overall Club Champion.

When is the Counter-Strike 2 Grand Final?

The Counter-Strike 2 Championship Finals will take place from August 19-23, with the Grand Final scheduled for Sunday, August 23 at the Accor Arena in Paris.

The wider Esports World Cup 2026 runs until August 23, featuring more than 2,000 players representing over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries, competing across 24 games, 25 tournaments and for a combined prize pool of more than $75 million.

How to watch the Counter-Strike 2 at the E-Sports World Cup

Fans can catch all the action from Counter-Strike 2 at the Esports World Cup live on DAZN, with every match available throughout the seven-week long event.

Coverage is available globally, excluding China, South Korea, the CIS region, Ukraine, Malaysia, Hungary, Peru and Finland. 

To watch live follow these steps:

• Download the DAZN app on your preferred device or visit DAZN.com.
• Sign up for a free DAZN account, or log in if you already have one.
• Search for Esports World Cup or browse the esports section.
• Select Counter-Strike 2 and start streaming live.