The third edition of the
Esports World Cup has kicked off at Porte de Versailles in Paris.
League of Legends, one of the most anticipated titles in the competition, is set to run
from July 15 to 19 and will bring together
16 of the world’s best League of Legends teams. The tournament will decide who succeeds
and
, the winners of the first two editions in 2024 and 2025.
The tournament features 16 teams in total: the
reigning EWC 2025 champion, the champions from the LCK, LPL, LEC, LCP, LCS and CBLOL, plus nine teams qualified through online regional qualifiers. That gives the event a mix of automatic regional champions and additional contenders that earned their place through qualification, which helps create a more balanced and competitive field.
The competition starts with a GSL-style group stage made up of four groups, where teams play in double-elimination brackets.
All matches are best of one except for elimination matches, which are best of three, and the top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs. The playoffs use a single-elimination bracket, with all matches best of three except the final, which is best of five. The winner also secures a place at the Esports World Cup 2027.
The first two days are meant for group stage only. First known matches are:
The four quarterfinals will be played on Friday at 13:00 CEST and 15:30 CEST. The semifinals will take place on Saturday at 13:00 CEST and 15:00 CEST, and the final will be played on Sunday at 14:30 CEST.
