EWC's Counter Strike-2 Poster | Credit: Esports World Cup Foundation
Esports World Cup 2026 Expands Counter-Strike Tournament
Foundation increases Counter-Strike2 purse to $2 million, adds teams and qualifier event for Saudi Arabia competition
Highlights
- EWC raises the prize pool to $2 million for Counter-Strike 2 competition, with $600,000 for the champion and $340,000 for the runner-up.
- Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh will feature 32 CS2 teams doubling up from 2025's 16 teams to ensure global and regional representation.
- This expansion strategy for Counter-Strike 2 tournament aligns with Riyadh’s goal of becoming a global esports hub under the Public Investment Fund.
The Esports World Cup Foundation announced, it will double the size of its Counter-Strike 2 tournament next year, expanding the field to 32 teams and raising the prize pool to $2 million as organizers seek to cement the event's status among the game's premier competitions.
The 2026 tournament, scheduled for Aug. 12-23 at Esports Boulevard in Riyadh, represents a significant expansion from this year's event, which featured 16 teams competing over five days for $1.25 million. The extended 11-day format will accommodate the larger field and a new double-elimination bracket structure designed to increase competitive intensity.
Twenty-eight teams will receive direct invitations based on Valve Regional Standings rankings from June, with seeding determined by July rankings. Four additional slots will be awarded through an open qualifier held Aug. 7-9 at Esports Boulevard Riyadh, which will accept up to 128 teams and carry its own $100,000 prize pool.
Counter-Strike 2 Tournament Format and Prize Distribution at EWC 2026
The qualification system prioritizes the world's top-ranked teams while preserving regional diversity. Twenty-one slots will be allocated from global standings, with additional guaranteed positions for North American, South American and Asian regions, plus the Asian Champions League winner.
The tournament's two-stage format divides the 32 teams into four groups of eight for the opening round. The top 16 advance to playoffs, with all matches following best-of-three formats except the grand final, which will be decided in a best-of-five series.
Prize distribution extends across all 32 participants. The champion will collect $600,000, while the runner-up receives $340,000. Teams finishing between 24th and 32nd place will earn $10,000 each.
The expansion reflects broader investment trends in competitive gaming, particularly in Counter-Strike 2, which has attracted growing viewership and sponsorship interest since its release. The addition of the open qualifier creates a path for emerging teams outside established rankings to compete alongside elite organizations.
The Esports World Cup 2026, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has positioned Riyadh as an emerging hub for competitive gaming events as part of the kingdom's broader entertainment and sports development initiatives.
Author
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master's in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
