Worlds 2026 begins in October with 24 teams, a new group stage format and the largest prize pool ever put on the line in the circuit. If this is your first time following along, here is what matters.
The format, and what changed
The group stage is no longer single elimination. It is now four groups of six, with the top two advancing straight to the quarter-finals and third and fourth playing a repechage. In practice, an early loss stopped being a death sentence — and that changes how teams build their preparation.
The favourites
Three teams arrive off dominant regional runs, and none of them is last year’s champion. The most impressive of them comes from the region that historically underperforms at international events, which makes the storyline more interesting still.
- Group stage: 12–20 October.
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals: 24–27 October.
- Final: 2 November.
Where to watch
The official broadcast runs a few seconds behind the international feed. If you follow along on two screens, sync them before you start — the gap ruins any live reaction.
We will be covering the whole tournament here, with daily match round-ups and analysis of the compositions that define each stage.
