Esports
VALORANT Esports World Cup 2026 guide: Teams, schedule, format and prize pool
Watch VALORANT at the Esports World Cup on DAZN
VALORANT is one of the headline tournaments at the Esports World Cup 2026, with 16 teams competing for one of the first major titles of the summer in Paris.
The tournament began on July 2 and runs until July 12, with the competition split between a group stage and knockout playoffs.
With a $2 million prize pool, an eight-team playoff bracket and some of the biggest organisations in the game still involved, VALORANT is one of the standout events of the Esports World Cup's opening week.
Here is everything you need to know.
When is VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026?
VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026 takes place from July 2-12.
The group stage ran from July 2-7, before the playoffs began on July 9.
The tournament concludes on July 12, with the third-place match followed by the grand final.
VALORANT Esports World Cup 2026 schedule
Here is the schedule for VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026.
- Group stage: July 2-7
- Quarter-finals: July 9-10
- Semi-finals: July 11
- Third-place match: July 12
- Grand final: July 12
The grand final is scheduled for July 12, with the winner crowned VALORANT champion at the Esports World Cup.
VALORANT Esports World Cup 2026 playoff matches
The group stage has now been completed, with eight teams advancing to the playoffs.
The quarter-final ties are:
- Team Heretics vs BBL Esports
- Gentle Mates vs NRG
- Team Vitality vs Nongshim RedForce
- 100 Thieves vs MIBR
The semi-finals take place on July 11, before the third-place match and grand final on July 12.
Which teams are competing in VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026?
A total of 16 teams qualified for VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026.
Eight teams have reached the playoffs:
- 100 Thieves
- MIBR
- Team Vitality
- Nongshim RedForce
- Team Heretics
- BBL Esports
- Gentle Mates
- NRG
What is the format?
VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026 began with a 16-team group stage.
The teams were split into four groups of four, with the group stage using a double-elimination GSL format. All group-stage matches were best-of-three, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the playoffs.
The playoffs are played as a single-elimination bracket.
Quarter-finals and semi-finals are best-of-three, while the grand final is best-of-five.
What is the prize pool?
VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026 has a $2 million prize pool.
The winning team will receive $600,000, with prize money also awarded to the other top finishers.
How to watch VALORANT at the Esports World Cup 2026 on DAZN
How to watch the Esports World Cup
Fans can watch the Esports World Cup 2026 live and for free on DAZN throughout the seven-week competition.
This is available 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 VALORANT and start streaming live.
