The group stage of the 2026 Esports World Cup for Dota 2 has concluded: the first playoff participants and Survival Stage matchups have been determined

The group stage of Esports World Cup 2026 in Dota 2 has concluded, determining the first playoff participants as well as the teams that will continue their campaign through the Survival Stage.

The tournament features 24 teams divided into four groups of six. During the group stage, all teams competed in a round-robin format with Best-of-2 series. The winner of each group advanced directly to the playoffs, while the teams finishing from second to fourth earned a chance to qualify through the Survival Stage.

In Group A, Team Falcons finished on top with four series wins and one draw (9–1 in maps). BetBoom Team, Rune Eaters, and Xtreme Gaming also advanced to the Survival Stage, while GamerLegion and Poor Rangers were eliminated.

The biggest surprise of Group B was Nigma Galaxy taking first place ahead of the group's favorites. Aurora Gaming, Team Liquid, and PlayTime also advanced, while Level UP and L1GA Team exited the tournament.

PARIVISION claimed first place in Group C, finishing ahead of Team Spirit and Vici Gaming. MOUZ also progressed to the Survival Stage, while REKONIX and Team Nemesis were eliminated.

Team Yandex topped Group D. 1w Team, LGD Gaming, and Virtus. pro finished second through fourth and also advanced. OG and IC x Insanity saw their tournament run end in the group stage.

The Survival Stage features Best-of-3 elimination matches. Teams that finished fourth in their groups will first face the third-placed teams. The winners of those series will then play against the second-placed teams. Only four squads will secure the remaining playoff berths.

Esports World Cup 2026 in Dota 2 is one of the premier tournaments of the summer season. The championship is being held in Paris at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from July 7 to July 19 and has brought together the world's 24 strongest teams. The total prize pool is $2 million.

The tournament winner will receive $750,000 along with 1,000 Esports World Cup Club Championship points, which play a crucial role in the race for the overall EWC club title. As a result, teams are competing not only for the championship trophy but also for strategically important points for their organizations.