The Esports World Cup 2026 enters its next phase today: The group stage for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 kicks off at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Sixteen of the world's best teams will battle until August 9th for a share of a hefty $1.8 million prize pool – and the prestigious EWC title. Following the Fatal Fury competition at the end of July, Black Ops 7 marks the next major Call of Duty event in the packed EWC 2026 calendar, which features numerous game titles throughout the summer.
Today's Group Stage Schedule
The 16 teams are divided into two GSL groups of eight teams each, with every series played in a Best-of-Five format. Only the top four from each group will advance; the other eight will be eliminated before the weekend. Today's action kicks off with Movistar Koi versus Carolina Royal Ravens, followed by FaZe Clan against The Pit, and OpTic Gaming versus Team WaR in the evening. The day concludes with 100 Thieves facing Boston Breach. Those who prevail will secure a spot on their path to the final weekend.
OpTic Seeks Revenge, FaZe Rides New Momentum
The day promises excitement, especially given the backstory: OpTic Gaming arrives as the defending champions, after the team was denied a historic triple title at CoD Champs. The green-and-white organization's chance for redemption is consequently huge. FaZe Clan, on the other hand, enters the competition as the newly crowned CDL Champion 2026, brimming with confidence, and is considered by many experts to be the top favorite for the overall victory. This very clash of form – the seasoned defending champions against the league's current hottest contender – makes the group stage more than just a formality.
For fans who want to follow the matches: The games will be streamed on the official Esports World Cup channels, and the schedule and results will be continuously updated on the official tournament website. For the community, the tournament is already a summer staple: Last year's event saw dramatic Best-of-Five series create goosebump-inducing moments, and this time, too, much points to close group matches before the knockout phase decides the champion over the weekend. Those interested in the next EWC highlight in Paris can find another look back at this year's tournament in our report on DarkAngel's Fatal Fury title win.
Source: Dot Esports, Gamereactor
Which team do you think will win the title – defending champions OpTic or favorites FaZe? Let us know in the comments!
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