Four players to watch during opening week at the Esports World Cup 2026

Some are chasing another championship to cement their legacy, while others are looking to announce themselves on one of the biggest stages in esports.

Opening week in Paris features some of the biggest tournaments on the Esports World Cup 2026 calendar, with champions set to be crowned in VALORANT, Apex Legends and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, while Dota 2 begins its own road towards a major title.

Here are four players who could shape the opening chapter of the Esports World Cup 2026.

Dambi, Nongshim RedForce - VALORANT

Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu heads to Paris with the chance to prove he belongs among VALORANT's elite.

His breakthrough came at VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, where he was named MVP after helping Nongshim RedForce defeat Paper Rex 3-0 in the Grand Final.

Since then, Nongshim have found it harder to maintain that level.

Their defeat to DRX in the VCT Pacific Stage 1 playoffs added fresh doubt around the Korean side, turning the Esports World Cup into an important test of their staying power.

For Dambi, the challenge is clear.

If he can reproduce the confidence and impact he showed in Santiago, Nongshim could quickly become one of the teams nobody wants to face in Paris.

Blinkzr, Sentinels - Apex Legends

Miguel "Blinkzr" Quiles arrives at the Esports World Cup with world champion status and a new organisation behind him.

The reigning ALGS champion was one of the stars of the Championship in Sapporo, where he earned MVP honours after helping complete a historic run from the Last Chance Qualifier to the world title.

That achievement already secured his place among Apex Legends' biggest names, but his move to Sentinels has added another layer to the story.

Sentinels signed the world championship-winning roster earlier this year, making EWC 2026 one of the first major opportunities to judge the move on an international stage.

For Blinkzr, success in Paris would do more than strengthen his own reputation.

It would also underline Sentinels as an immediate force in Apex Legends.

Xiao Hai, Team Falcons - FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves

Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun arrives at the Esports World Cup as one of the most accomplished fighting game players in the field.

The Team Falcons player has been a dominant figure during the early life of FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, adding a string of major titles to an already remarkable career.

The Esports World Cup title, however, remains unfinished business.

Xiao Hai reached the Grand Final in 2025 but was beaten by Goichi "GO1" Kish, leaving Paris as the stage for another attempt at the trophy.

With another year of experience in the game behind him, he returns as one of the leading contenders.

For Xiao Hai, victory would add another landmark achievement to one of fighting games' great careers.

Collapse, Team Spirit - Dota 2

Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov returns to the Esports World Cup as one of Dota 2's most proven big-match players.

The Team Spirit offlaner has been central to some of the organisation's greatest victories, including two triumphs at The International and last year's Esports World Cup title.

That history makes him one of the standout names in Paris, but Team Spirit are not arriving without questions to answer.

Their failure to reach the top four at The International 2025 showed that the gap at the top of Dota 2 has narrowed.

EWC 2026 gives Collapse and Team Spirit the chance to reassert themselves on a major international stage.

If they are to defend their title, his experience and composure could once again be decisive.

Where to watch the Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup 2026 is available to watch live and for free on DAZN throughout the tournament. Fans can stream every tournament live on the DAZN app across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, streaming devices and games consoles, or watch through any web browser at DAZN.com.

If you do not already have the DAZN app, follow these instructions:

• Download the free DAZN app from your device's app store or visit DAZN.com on your web browser.
• Select Sign Up or Log In.
• Create an account using your email address, or sign in with Apple, Google or Facebook.
• Once registered, search for Esports World Cup to watch every tournament live and on demand.

Coverage is available globally, excluding China, South Korea, the CIS region, Ukraine, Malaysia, Hungary and Finland. Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 coverage is also unavailable in Peru.