The 2026 Esports World Cup Dota 2 tournament has begun, with 24 teams competing.

The 2026 EWC Dota 2 tournament officially kicked off on July 7th. 24 top teams from around the world have gathered to compete for a total prize pool of $2 million, with the champion taking home $750,000.

The group stage of this tournament will be held from July 7th to 12th. During the five-day competition, 24 teams will be narrowed down to 16.

Currently, the 24 teams have been divided into four groups of six, playing a round-robin BO2 (two-game) format. During the group stage, 12 matches will be played each day, meaning each group will play three matches per day.

According to the advancement rules, the first place in each group will directly advance to the knockout stage; the second to fourth place teams will enter the qualifying stage; and the bottom two teams will be directly eliminated.

After the first day of competition, the standings in each group are beginning to emerge. In Group A, GamerLegion is currently in the lead. In Group B, Aurora Gaming and Nigma Galaxy are tied for first place.

In Group C, PARIVISION and Vici Gaming (VG) are tied for first place with the same points. Meanwhile, in the fiercely competitive Group D, 1w Team has taken a slight lead. The remaining matches will determine the final fate of each team.

Image source: Internet