Esports World Cup Foundation 2026 to hold Last Chance Qualifiers in Paris

The Esports World Cup Foundation will stage the 2026 Last Chance Qualifiers in Paris from July 5 to Aug. 10. The series awards 38 remaining places across eight titles and serves as the final route for players and clubs without direct invites.

Competition opens with Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on July 5. EA Sports FC follows from July 9 to 11. Street Fighter 6 runs July 24 to 26. Tekken 8 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 hold qualifiers from July 31 to Aug. 2. Chess is set for Aug. 4 to 6. Counter-Strike 2 runs Aug. 7 to 9, and Rocket League closes the window from Aug. 8 to 10.

The 38 available places are divided by title. Four players will qualify from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. EA Sports FC advances 14 players to the Play-Ins. Street Fighter 6 adds six players and Tekken 8 adds four. In team titles, one club qualifies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, four clubs in Counter-Strike 2, and one club in Rocket League. Chess sends four players.

Registration for the qualifiers remains open. Each game has a separate application, and entrants must use the correct form for their title.

The LCQs feed into the Esports World Cup 2026 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, scheduled from July 6 to Aug. 23. The event features a $75 million prize pool across 25 events in 24 games. Organizers expect more than 2,000 players, over 200 clubs and representation from more than 100 countries, with standings aggregated in a cross-game Club Championship. Tickets for live attendance went on sale on May 29.