DAZN renews free global coverage of Esports World Cup
July 8, 2026 11.23 Europe/London By Julian Clover


DAZN will stream the Esports World Cup 2026 free-to-view worldwide for the third consecutive year, extending its push into esports alongside its traditional sports portfolio.

The seven-week tournament, which runs from July 6 to August 23, has moved from Riyadh to Paris for its 2026 edition. Organisers say more than 1.5 million players competed in 330 qualifying events to earn places across 24 game titles, including first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arenas, fighting games and sports simulations.

Coverage begins with the opening ceremony at La Seine Musicale on July 8, featuring performances by DJ Snake and Aya Nakamura, before seven weeks of competition culminating in the Club Championship, which rewards organisations for consistent performances across multiple titles. Team Falcons currently lead the qualification standings.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, said: “The Esports World Cup brings together the world’s leading games, players, clubs and communities on one global stage. It speaks to esports fans, gaming fans and new audiences everywhere, and DAZN is uniquely positioned to help us make that experience accessible globally, for free.”

Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, added: “The Esports World Cup is a landmark global sporting event that showcases the very best of competitive gaming across multiple genres. Its scale, innovation, and ability to engage younger audiences make it a perfect fit for DAZN. We are excited to bring this competition to fans worldwide free-to-view for the third year in a row and to continue cementing our leading position in sports entertainment.”

The agreement continues DAZN’s strategy of expanding beyond mainstream sports into emerging properties, following recent rights deals for 3ICE hockey, while strengthening its appeal to younger audiences through free access to major live events.