Street Fighter 6 at EWC 26: Everything you need to know

A total of 32 elite competitors will battle in Paris for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool, the EWC trophy and valuable Club Championship points as one of the headline competitions of Week 4.

From a proven champion chasing history to one of Japan's brightest new stars, here is everything you need to know before the tournament begins.

What is the format for Street Fighter 6 at EWC 26?

Thirty-two players have qualified or received direct invitations to compete at the Esports World Cup 2026.

The tournament begins with four groups of eight players, each played using a double-elimination bracket. Every match in the opening stage will be contested as a first-to-three series, with the top four players from each group progressing.

Those 16 remaining competitors will then advance to Group Stage 2, where they are split into two further groups of eight. Once again, players battle through a double-elimination bracket, with only the top four from each group securing a place in the Playoffs.

The tournament concludes with an eight-player single-elimination Playoff bracket, culminating in a first-to-five Grand Final to crown the Street Fighter 6 champion at EWC 26.

Who are the favourites to win Street Fighter 6 at EWC 26?

There is no shortage of contenders in Paris, but few arrive with stronger credentials than Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena Segundo.

The Dominican star enters EWC 26 as the reigning back-to-back EVO Street Fighter 6 champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest competitors of the modern era. His remarkable consistency has seen him become the only player to win back-to-back championships at two different S-tier events across multiple fighting game titles, making him the benchmark for the rest of the field.

Standing in his way is one of the Esports World Cup's greatest success stories. Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun returns to Paris looking to make history after winning the Street Fighter title at both EWC 24 and EWC 25. His unforgettable reverse sweep from a 0-3 deficit against Chilean prodigy Derek "Blaz" Blaz in last year's Grand Final is already regarded as one of the finest matches in modern Street Fighter history. Victory this year would make Xiao Hai the first player ever to win three consecutive Street Fighter championships at the Esports World Cup.

Another player capable of lifting the trophy is Japan's Eisuke "Yamaguchi" Yamaguchi. Representing ZETA DIVISION, Yamaguchi earned his place in Paris after producing one of the most dominant tournament runs of the year, winning EVO Japan 2026 without dropping a single set despite competing in a record-breaking field of 7,168 entrants. It was a performance that established him as one of the game's brightest stars, and he now has the opportunity to prove himself on the biggest international stage.

While those three headline the conversation, the quality runs throughout the bracket. With 32 of the world's finest players competing, every round has the potential to produce championship-calibre matches.

How to watch Street Fighter 6 at EWC 26 on DAZN

The Esports World Cup 2026 is available to watch live and for free on DAZN throughout the tournament.

Fans can stream every tournament on the DAZN app across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles, or watch through any web browser at DAZN.com.

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

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 Street Fighter 6 and start streaming live.