Benzema-Amine showmatch doubles Esports World Cup peak

A celebrity showmatch at the FC Pro 26 World Championship in France between Karim Benzema and streamer Mohamed Amine Mahmoud peaked at more than 78,000 viewers on the final day of the Esports World Cup 2026, nearly double last year’s peak of about 39,300.

Benzema partnered with former professional FIFA player Bruce Spank Grannec, while Amine played alongside French esports commentator Mahmoud brak2K Gassama. Benzema and Grannec won the exhibition 4-0. The match used a two-versus-two format, replacing the one-on-one, three-game setup that was used in 2025.

Viewership tracking recorded the 78,000-plus peak and showed the exhibition’s audience was comparable to the tournament’s competitive broadcasts and exceeded the peak viewership of some playoff matches.

Organizers reported that the FC Pro 26 World Championship’s average viewers rose 14% compared with the 2025 edition and that local interest increased after the event moved to France.

Analysts noted the pairing combined a high-profile footballer, a popular streamer, a former pro player and a national commentator, drawing viewers from football audiences, esports fans and French livestreaming communities.

Additional tournament statistics and match-level viewership trends are available on the event’s EWC Hub.