Esports World Cup 2026 Last Chance Qualifiers in Paris

The Esports World Cup 2026 Last Chance Qualifiers will take place in Paris from July 5 to August 10 across eight competitive titles. The LCQs offer 32 individual player berths and six club slots to the Esports World Cup main event in France.

The qualifiers are the final pathway for competitors who did not receive direct invitations. Entry is open via separate sign-up forms for each title, and competitors must register on the correct form to be eligible to compete in Paris.

Each title has an assigned date range: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on July 5; EA Sports FC from July 9 to 11; Street Fighter 6 from July 24 to 26; Tekken 8 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 from July 31 to August 2; Chess from August 4 to 6; Counter-Strike 2 from August 7 to 9; and Rocket League from August 8 to 10.

A total of 38 advancement slots are available from the LCQs. Fatal Fury will advance four individual players; EA Sports FC will advance 14 players into the Play-Ins; Street Fighter 6 will qualify six players; Tekken 8 will qualify four players; Chess will qualify four players. Counter-Strike 2 will send four clubs to the main event, while Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Rocket League will each award one club slot.

The Esports World Cup main event is scheduled at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from July 6 to August 23 and carries a $75 million prize pool across 25 events in 24 games. The broader tournament will feature more than 2,000 players representing over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries and includes a cross-game Club Championship.

Tickets for live attendance went on sale May 29. Organizers will publish official audience and viewership figures through an event dashboard. Competitors who qualify at the LCQs will join the field at the Esports World Cup in Paris.