The Esports World Cup 2026 has started. And the first event in this tournament is Apex Legends. Playoffs have arrived and this year they are part of something big. Some of the best Apex Legends teams in the world are in Paris, France, to fight for the Esports title.
All the action is happening at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and honestly, the hype around this world cup feels different. It was not just another tournament. It is the biggest tournament in the world where top organizations are converging on one city. This event feels like a genuine milestone for competitive gaming and esports as a whole.
In this article, we mention 20 teams that are battling for the title.
Here are the 20 teams:
Taking your place in the Grand Finals was not easy. These 20 squads had to fight with many teams in the group stage and unforgiving groups just to earn their spots in the finals.
- Team RRQ
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Enter Force.36
- Wolves Esports
- ForFun Esports
- Geekay Esports
- Elite Esports
- Team Liquid
- Sbul Esports
- Team Vision
- Gaimin Gladiators
- Zeta Division
- AG.AL
- Reject
- Zedi Esports
- Team Falcons
- Team Nemesis
- Sentinels
- Alliance
- Unlimit
The event runs from July 7 to July 11 2026, with the Grand Finals completed on Saturday, July 11. First slots are scheduled for 2:30 PM BST. For all the fans in the world, they have to check their time zone according to their own.
Format Explained
If you are new to the Esports World Cup or Apex Legends, here is the format explained for you guys. The grand finals use what is called the “match point format,” and it was a big part of why these finals get so important. Here is the basic idea:
- Teams are playing match after match
- The team wants placement points along with the kill point as well
- Once a squad crosses a set point limit, then they become match point eligible
That all means they are in a position to win it all.
But here is the catch: hitting that limit is not enough on their own. If they want to take that championship, they have to win matches and get the trophy of the biggest esports event in the world. A team can be sitting comfortably at the top of the standings and still not seal the deal until they win a match. It rewards teams that can stay sharp and consistent but it also leaves plenty of room for a last-minute underdog run. Last time, the ALGS Split winner team VK Gaming was eliminated from the Esports World Cup 2026. So this is not an easy battle with anyone in this game; anyone can move forward as soon as possible. So they have to fight for the trophy with a winner’s mindset.
The prize pool
This is not just about trophies. The teams are competing for their country and a massive prize pool of $2,000,000. There was more than cash at the time. Every team here is also earning club championship points, which count toward their organization’s overall standing in the EWC. Also, winning ALGS Split 1 playoffs comes with some serious bragging rights in the esports world, the kind of win that gets much talk in the town for a long time.
Esports fans’s eyes are on Paris this weekend. Let’s see who walks away as champion.
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