Street Fighter 6 at EWC 26 Survival Guide

Thirty-two of the world's elite have either qualified or received direct invitations to compete in Paris. The tournament begins with four groups of eight players, each playing through a double-elimination bracket with all matches contested as first-to-three.

The top four players from each group advance to Group Stage 2, where the remaining 16 competitors are split into two groups of eight. Another double-elimination bracket will determine the final eight players who advance to the Playoffs.

The tournament concludes with a single-elimination Playoff bracket, culminating in a first-to-five Grand Final to crown the Street Fighter 6 champion at EWC 26.

The strongest bull

Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena Segundo enters EWC 26 as the player to beat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest competitors in modern Street Fighter history, the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic arrives in Paris as the reigning back-to-back EVO champion in Street Fighter 6.

His résumé is already among the strongest in fighting game history. MenaRD is the only player to win back-to-back championships at two different S-tier events across multiple fighting games, further cementing his legacy as one of the FGC's all-time greats.

The potential three-peat

A living legend in the fighting game community, back-to-back EWC champion Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun returns to the Esports World Cup looking to make history once again. His Grand Final victory at EWC 25 is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in modern Street Fighter history, as he completed a reverse sweep from an 0-3 deficit against 16-year-old Chilean prodigy Derek “Blaz” Blaz.

Now, Xiao Hai has the opportunity to become the first player to win three consecutive Street Fighter titles at the Esports World Cup, adding another historic achievement to an already legendary career.

The undefeated

Representing ZETA DIVISION, Eisuke “Yamaguchi” Yamaguchi enters EWC 26 as Japan's top contender. He made history at EVO Japan 2026 this past May by conquering a record-breaking field of 7,168 entrants without dropping a single set.

That flawless championship run earned him direct qualification to EWC 26, and he now arrives in Paris looking to prove that his dominant performance on home soil was only the beginning.

Club Championship

Street Fighter 6 offers another major opportunity for clubs to climb the Club Championship standings. With 1,000 points available to the tournament winner, every deep run could have a significant impact on the race, particularly for organizations already near the top of the leaderboard.

For clubs like Team Falcons and AG.AL, a strong performance in Paris could provide a crucial boost as the battle for the Club Championship continues.