FC Pro World Championship at 2026 Esports World Cup Survival Guide

The FC Pro World Championship begins with a 36-player League Stage from July 22 to 24. Each player will compete in six matches against different opponents, earning three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss.

The top 24 players advance to the Playoffs, with the top eight earning a direct spot in the Round of 16. The remaining competitors will battle through the Knockout Stage in a single-elimination bracket from July 25 to 26.

Protecting his EWC crown

At the center of the action stands Manuel “ManuBachoore” Bachoore, who enters as the defending world champion. Already the first player to win two EA FC World Championship titles, the Dutch Team Liquid star returns with a chance to further cement his legacy. With every opponent looking to end his reign, ManuBachoore will need to once again showcase the composure and consistency that made him a champion.

Erasing last year’s disappointment

One of ManuBachoore’s biggest challenges will come from Anders Vejrgang, who enters the tournament looking for redemption. At EWC 25 in Riyadh, the Danish star arrived as one of the favorites to claim the title for Team Falcons but suffered an early elimination before reaching the Knockout Stage. For a player defined by his pursuit of victory, the result left unfinished business. Vejrgang now heads to Paris determined to put last year’s disappointment behind him and prove he remains one of the world’s best EA SPORTS FC competitors.

Rising from the LCQ

While plenty of established names enter as contenders, Francesco “Obrun2002” Tagliafierro represents a dangerous wild card. After reaching the top eight at last year’s World Championship, the Italian fell short of direct qualification this year and had to fight through the Last Chance Qualifier and Play-Ins to earn another shot at the title.

That difficult path through multiple elimination matches has made Obrun2002 battle tested, while also putting him in contention for a rare achievement: the Jaffonso Award, given to players who win an EWC event after qualifying through the LCQ.

As the action begins in Paris, every player arrives with a different story to tell. Whether ManuBachoore defends his crown, Vejrgang completes his redemption run, Obrun2002 finishes his climb from the bottom, or another contender creates history, the FC Pro World Championship promises no shortage of drama.

Club Championship

ManuBachoore’s victory at EWC 25 was one of Team Liquid’s biggest Club Championship contributions and a major setback for Team Falcons. This year, the landscape has shifted, with Team Falcons signing Vejrgang in the offseason while Team Liquid and Team Vitality enter with multiple strong contenders. With several Club Championship contenders in the field, EA SPORTS FC could play a major role in reshaping the standings.