Esports World Cup 2026: Last Chance Qualifier Preview: Format, Participants, Prize Pool, Talents, and Schedule
The Last Chance Qualifier matches for the 2026 Esports World Cup in CS2 kick off tomorrow. The tournament format, list of participants, prize pool distribution, and schedule for the first day of competition are detailed below.
Format and Dates
The Esports World Cup 2026: Last Chance Qualifier will take place from August 7 to 9, 2026, in Paris, France. The event will feature 64 teams, which will be divided into 16 GSL groups of four teams each during the group stage. Following the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, where they will compete in a single-elimination bracket. All matches in the tournament will be best-of-3 series.
List of Participants
- 100 Thieves
- 1w Team
- 6666 Esports
- 9INE
- ABT Esports
- Acend
- Aogiri
- ASTRAL Esports
- BASEMENT BOYS
- BC.Game Esports
- Betclic Apogee Esports
- BIG
- Citron Esport
- Dark Tigre
- DENDELE CS
- Dhala Esport
- DUSTY
- Echo
- Esport Academy Copenhagen
- Eternal Fire
- EYEBALLERS
- FKOMAR_FPL-C
- Fluxo W7M
- Fnatic
- FOKUS
- Galactik Rebels 501st
- GenOne
- Gentle Mates
- Giant Pandas
- HEROIC
- HOTU
- IC Esports
- INFINITE
- JiJieHao
- K27
- lafox
- levelONE esports
- MANGANESE
- Metizport
- Nade Gaming
- NIO Esports
- NRG
- OG
- Orion Wanderers
- Partizan Esports
- PASSION CHICHA
- Phantom Esports
- Prestige Esports
- QueenConso
- REM
- REVENIX
- Sadfamous
- Sangal Esports
- Sashi Esport
- SAW
- SINNERS Esports
- Spirit Esports
- team_Kreazion
- Team Liquid
- Vael
- Vandulken
- Virtus.pro
- z to forward
- Zeste Esport
Prize Pool Distribution
As part of the Esports World Cup 2026 Preview: Last Chance Qualifier, teams will compete for a $100,000 prize pool.
- 1st–4th place — a spot in the Esports World Cup 2026;
- 5th–8th place — $9,500;
- 9th–16th place — $7,750.
List of Commentators for the Qualifier
English-language broadcast talent:
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Commentators:
- Travis “Trav” Lando Mott;
- Henry “HenryG” Greer;
- Michael “YouM3” Cassidy;
- Neo “Ne0kai” Kane.
Schedule for Day 1 of Play
August 7, times listed in Moscow time.
- 12:00 p.m. — IC Esports vs. NIO Esports.
- 12:00 p.m. — team_Kreazion vs. ASTRAL Esports.
- 12:00 p.m. — BIG vs. z to forward.
- 12:00 p.m. — DUSTY vs. Fluxo W7M.
- 12:00 p.m. — DENDELE CS vs. QueenConso.
- 12:00 p.m. — SAW vs. Esport Academy Copenhagen.
- 12:00 p.m. — HOTU vs. Galactik rebels 501st.
- 12:00 p.m. — GenOne vs. lafox.
- 12:00 p.m. — INFINITE vs. Aogiri.
- 12:00 p.m. — Giant Pandas vs. Betclic Apogee Esports.
- 12:00 p.m. — 1w Team vs. Citron Esport.
- 12:00 p.m. — BC.Game Esports vs. BASEMENT BOYS.
- 12:00 p.m. — HEROIC vs. REM.
- 12:00 p.m. — ABT Esports vs. 9INE.
- 12:00 p.m. — Gentle Mates vs. 6666 Esports.
- 12:00 p.m. — FKOMAR_FPL-C vs. Fnatic.
- 7:00 PM — Echo vs. PASSION CHICHA.
- 7:00 PM — Vael vs. OG.
- 7:00 PM — EYEBALLERS vs. REVENIX.
- 7:00 PM — levelONE esports vs. Phantom Esports.
- 7:00 p.m. — 100 Thieves vs. Sadfamous.
- 7:00 p.m. — Nade Gaming vs. Eternal Fire.
- 7:00 p.m. — Team Liquid vs. Dhala Esport.
- 7:00 p.m. — Prestige Esport vs. Metizport.
- 7:00 p.m. — FOKUS vs. Partizan Esports.
- 7:00 p.m. — Orion Wanderers vs. Sashi Esport.
- 7:00 p.m. — Acend vs. Vandulken.
- 7:00 p.m. — Spirit Esports vs. NRG.
- 7:00 p.m. — K27 vs. Dark Tigre.
- 7:00 p.m. — MANGANESE vs. SINNERS Esports.
- 7:00 p.m. — Virtus.pro vs. Sangal Esports.
- 7:00 p.m. — Zeste Esport vs. JiJieHao.
Where to Watch the Esports World Cup 2026: Last Chance Qualifier
Photo — Esports Foundation.
