The stc Contenders stage at the Esports World Cup 2026 is hosting two distinct competitive experiences: the final qualifiers and the Warriors Cup community competitions, taking place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris.
stc Group holds the naming rights to this stage as the founding partner of the tournament, and it will host events throughout the tournament's duration in Paris from July 6 to August 23.
The final qualifiers represent the last stop before reaching the main stage of the Esports World Cup, giving remaining clubs and players a final chance to secure their place among the professionals. These qualifiers span eight games: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, EA SPORTS FC 26, Fatal Fury, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, and Tekken 8.
In contrast, the Warriors Cup competitions take a different path—they are not a route to professionalism but a space dedicated to the community, allowing fans and amateur players of all levels to participate, be appreciated, and grow. The competitions have seen participation from top amateur players so far, based on the principle that talent exists at every level and deserves a space to be seen and celebrated.
Entering its third week, the Warriors Cup is seeing growing numbers of players across games including Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, EA SPORTS FC 26, League of Legends, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, and Team Fight Tactics, aiming to reach over 10,000 players over the tournament's seven weeks.
As the leading and founding partner, stc Group has secured exclusive naming rights to several of the tournament's most prominent facilities at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, including the stc Arena, the main competition venue, and the stc Contenders stage, home to the Warriors Cup and final qualifiers. The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup features more than 2,000 professional players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 25 competitions across 24 games for prizes exceeding $75 million.