Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 brings together elite rosters from Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor in a unified international event. You will see 20 teams compete under a cross-title structure as part of the 2026 Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
The event runs from July 30 to August 8 and features a $3,000,000 prize pool. Organizers expanded international participation this year by formally integrating top Arena of Valor teams alongside established Honor of Kings leagues.
This structure increases regional diversity and creates direct competition between ecosystems that previously operated separately. You can expect representatives from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Brazil, and China, along with invited Arena of Valor squads.
Teams and Competitive Structure for 2026
You will watch 20 teams compete across a three-phase format: Play-In, Group Stage, and Playoffs.
Regional Slot Allocation
| League / Qualifier | Slots |
|---|---|
| King Pro League (Spring 2026) | 2 |
| Indonesia Kings Laga (Spring 2026) | 3 |
| Philippine Kings League (Spring 2026) | 3 |
| MY Honor of Kings League (Spring 2026) | 3 |
| Honor of Kings Brazil Championship | 2 |
| Honor of Kings Major League | 2 |
| King’s Arise India Qualifier | 2 |
| RoV Pro League (Summer 2026) | 1 (Invited) |
| Arena of Glory (Spring 2026) | 1 (Invited) |
| Garena Challenger Series (Spring 2026) | 1 (Invited) |
India’s qualifier marks one of the region’s first major professional appearances in Honor of Kings following the game’s recent launch there. Arena of Valor leagues contribute three invited teams, ensuring cross-title representation.
Play-In Stage
- 8 teams
- Two groups of four
- Double-elimination bracket
- Best-of-three (Bo3) matches
The top two teams from each group advance. The remaining four teams exit the tournament.
Group Stage
- 16 teams
- Four groups of four
- Double-elimination format
- Best-of-three (Bo3) series
The top two teams from each group move forward to the playoffs, narrowing the field to eight contenders.
Playoffs
- 8 teams
- Single-elimination bracket
- Best-of-seven (Bo7) series
Only the third-place match uses a best-of-five (Bo5) format. If a playoff series reaches Game 7, Ultimate Battle rules apply, adding a specialized competitive condition to the deciding match.
This structure ensures that you see consistent cross-title matchups while maintaining competitive depth through multiple elimination phases.
