The Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 tournament has reached its final stage. Eight teams remain in the running for the title and a share of the $2 million prize pool. The Playoffs bracket kicked off on July 16 in Paris, with two matches per day until the Grand Final on July 19.
How the Playoffs Field Was Set
The eight teams in the bracket qualified in two ways. Four came out on top of their respective groups during the Group Stage. The other four survived the Survival Stage, where the final round produced these results:
- BB Team beat LGD Gaming 2-0
- Vici Gaming beat 1w Team 2-1
- Team Spirit beat Team Liquid 2-1
- Rune Eaters beat Aurora Gaming 2-0
Rune Eaters’ run stood out. The team beat both Virtus.pro and Aurora Gaming during the Survival Stage to punch its ticket into the final eight, after what had otherwise been an inconsistent season.
Playoffs Format and Schedule
Every match in the single-elimination bracket is a best-of-three, except the Grand Final, which is a best-of-five. Lose once in the bracket, and the run is over.
Quarterfinals, July 16
- Nigma Galaxy vs. BB Team, 12:00 BST / 13:00 CEST
- Team Falcons vs. Vici Gaming, 15:30 BST / 16:30 CEST
Quarterfinals, July 17
- Team Yandex vs. Team Spirit, 12:00 BST / 13:00 CEST
- PARIVISION vs. Rune Eaters, 15:30 BST / 16:30 CEST
Semifinals, July 18
- Nigma Galaxy/BB Team winner vs. Falcons/Vici winner, 12:00 BST / 13:00 CEST
- Yandex/Spirit winner vs. PARIVISION/Rune Eaters winner, 15:30 BST / 16:30 CEST
July 19
- Third Place Match: 11:00 BST / 12:00 CEST
- Grand Final: 14:30 BST / 15:30 CEST
The Playoffs run through July 19, with two matches scheduled per day until the bracket narrows to a Grand Final and Third Place Match on the closing day.
