Esports World Cup 2026 Featuring Rocket League Survival Guide

The tournament begins with a two-day Group Stage, with 16 qualified teams split across two groups and competing in best-of-five Upper Bracket and best-of-seven Lower Bracket series. The surviving teams will advance to Championship Weekend, where the playoff bracket will whittle down the field until a champion is crowned. The winning club will take home the $400,000 first prize and 1,000 Club Championship points.

Karmine Corp returns to defend its crown

Reigning EWC champions Karmine Corp return to Paris with their sights set on making history. The French club has made a slight adjustment to its championship-winning roster, with core stars Axel “Vatira” Touret and Tristan “Atow” Soyez now joined by Charles “juicy” Sabiani. Despite the change, the expectations remain the same: defend the title and prove KC remains the team to beat on the EWC stage.

Karmine Corp enters the tournament with a chance to become the first Rocket League team to win back-to-back EWC titles. With a championship already under its belt and a roster built around some of the biggest names in the game, KC will look to turn its previous success into a new chapter of EWC history.

A familiar rival stands between KC and another title

Standing directly in Karmine Corp’s path is Team Falcons, a club with unfinished business at the EWC. After finishing third at last year’s event, Falcons made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by signing Samy “Dralii” Hajji away from Karmine Corp, adding a player with two EWC championship titles to a roster already hungry for more. Now, Dralii will face his former teammates on the biggest stage, giving one of the tournament’s marquee rivalries an added layer.

With a re-energized roster and one of Rocket League’s most decorated players in its ranks, Team Falcons arrives in Paris looking to improve on last year’s podium finish. This time, third place will not be enough. Falcons has its sights firmly set on taking the title away from Karmine Corp and ending KC’s bid for a second consecutive championship.

Four teams arrive with EWC champions

The championship experience does not stop with Karmine Corp and Team Falcons. Two more teams arrive in Paris with former EWC champions on their rosters, further underlining the quality of the field. Team Vitality brings 2024 champion Brice “ExoTiiK” Bigeard, while Twisted Minds has Evan “M0nkey M00n” Rogez, another member of that championship-winning lineup.

With four teams featuring players who have already lifted the EWC trophy, the road to another title will be anything but easy. Whoever emerges from the 16-team field will have had to overcome some of the most accomplished players in Rocket League to claim the crown.

Club Championship

Team Vitality enters the Rocket League tournament needing a strong finish to close the gap on Club Championship leaders Team Falcons and AG.AL. The Saudi-based Falcons, meanwhile, will be aiming for the maximum points available as they look to reclaim first place in the standings. With 1,000 Club Championship points on offer to the winner, Rocket League could play a major role in shaping the race for the title.