
DAZN, the world's leading sports entertainment platform, has announced a long-term strategic partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation to serve as the global broadcaster of the Esports World Cup (EWC). The 2026 edition marks the third consecutive year DAZN will bring the event free-to-view to audiences around the world.
The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris from July 6 to August 23, spanning seven weeks of competitive gaming across 24 game titles, including first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arenas, fighting games, and sports simulations. The tournament will open with a ceremony on July 8 at La Seine Musicale, featuring performances from internationally renowned artists including DJ Snake and Aya Nakamura.
Under the international Road to EWC pathway, more than 1.5 million players competed through 330 globally hosted qualification events. Each week of competition will focus on a different set of titles, creating a continuous calendar of high-intensity matches and championship moments. Running throughout the event, the Club Championship will reward consistency across titles, with players earning points to determine the world's leading esports club. Team Falcons currently top the standings with 221 qualifications.
The event brings together leading clubs and elite players, all observed by an audience of hundreds of thousands of fans, competing for a share of more than $60 million in prize money - the largest prize pool in esports history.
DAZN will broadcast the competition to a global audience through its app-based platform, which offers accessibility in multiple languages, ensuring fans worldwide can enjoy and engage with the tournament live and on-demand. The partnership tasks DAZN with producing and delivering content that optimizes the fan experience and helps grow reach and audience.
Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN Group, says, DAZN's technology, distribution, production and marketing capabilities sets us apart. We are the perfect long-term partners for the Esports World Cup Foundation, and we will be working closely together to further develop how we deliver this innovative event in ways that excite, engage and create new levels of interaction for fans and new audiences. The Esports World Cup is another fantastic and forward-looking property that DAZN will bring to the world, helping take it to the next level in terms of growth as well as helping attract an even more younger and diverse demographic to the platform.
Segev adds: The Esports World Cup is a landmark global sporting event that showcases the very best of competitive gaming across multiple genres. Its scale, innovation, and ability to engage younger audiences make it a perfect fit for DAZN. We are excited to bring this competition to fans worldwide free-to-view for the third year in a row and to continue cementing our leading position in sports entertainment.
Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation, says, We're excited to team up with DAZN and build traditional sports coverage for the Esports World Cup. As we work to establish esports as a vital driver of global culture, partnerships with market leaders like DAZN are essential long-term steps to stimulate sustained interest and engage global fan communities. I'm looking forward to DAZN's world-class coverage of EWC and commitment as we celebrate competitive excellence and gaming culture together.
Reichert adds: The Esports World Cup brings together the world's leading games, players, clubs and communities on one global stage. It speaks to esports fans, gaming fans and new audiences everywhere, and DAZN is uniquely positioned to help us make that experience accessible globally, for free.
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