The world's best Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) teams are now set for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC)! The Wild Card Stage of the MSC at EWC 26 concluded today (4 July) in Paris, France, with Team Falcons MENA (FLCM) securing the final Main Stage berth. FLCM completes the 16-team lineup of elite contenders who will throw down when the MSC at EWC 26 Group Stage commences on 22 July at the world's largest multi-title esports event.
The 2026 edition of the MSC marks the international tournament's debut in Europe. With an expanded 10 teams this Wild Card (up from eight last year) and new pathways for India, Thailand, South Korea, and Western Europe, MSC at EWC 26 embodies MLBB's continued global expansion. The Main Stage will herald an even more diverse roster of esports athletes from around the world, spanning Southeast Asia (SEA), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), East Asia (EA), and the Americas (AMER).
MLBB is the star game of international video game company, MOONTON Games. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million Monthly Active Users (MAU), MLBB is one of the world's leading mobile games. MLBB has cemented itself as a global esports powerhouse, holding the world record for the most-watched mobile esports title since 2021, according to Esports Charts.
The Ascent of MENA—A New Regional Powerhouse?
Fan-favourites and international regulars Team Falcons MENA (FLCM) claimed their spot on the Main Stage after defeating Mongolia's HUNS Esports (HUN) 2-1 in a close-fought Wild Card Finals, avenging their Day 1 Group Stage loss. For FLCM, the victory marked the payoff to a multi-year climb shaped by domestic success in the MLBB Professional League (MPL) MENA and repeated tests on the international stage. With the win, FLCM joins Geekay Esports (GK) on the MSC at EWC 26 Main Stage, marking MENA's first two-team Main Stage appearance since the inaugural MSC at EWC. More importantly, it is the first time the region has fielded its second Main Stage representative through international qualification, underscoring MENA's rise as a global contender.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "Congratulations to Team Falcons MENA for claiming the final Main Stage slot at MSC at EWC 26. This year's Wild Card was our most inclusive yet, with an expanded format that welcomed athletes from a great many more regions into MSC. I am so proud of the team for having brought MSC to Europe for the first time and, next January, taking the M Series to Türkiye for the M8 World Championship Finals. We are writing the next chapter of MLBB Esports' globalisation journey—what a way to celebrate MLBB's 10th anniversary!"
Central Asia tops Wild Card viewership charts
Beyond the match results, the MSC at EWC 26 Wild Card highlighted Central Asia as an important growth frontier for MLBB Esports. Strong audience engagement from the region, matched by the performances of its representatives, points to a market where fandom and competitive ambition are rising together. As MLBB Esports advances its five-region structure, Central Asia showcases the influence of emerging regions on the international circuits.
Credit: Esports Charts
Viktor Proniakin, Product Manager of Esports Charts, shared: "One of the standout viewership trends we've observed across the Wildcard stage during MSC 2026 is the continued viewership strength of Mongolia and the broader Central Asian region. Organisations like The Huns Esports and The MongolZ continue to feature among the tournament's most-watched matches, reinforcing a pattern we've observed across multiple editions of the Wildcard stage. Their recurring presence suggests this is no longer a one-off success story, but a consistent regional audience trend."
Group Stage Draw revealed!
Following the conclusion of the Wild Card, MOONTON Games also unveiled the Group Stage draw for both MSC and MLBB Women's International (MWI) at EWC 26.
MSC at EWC 26 will move into its Group Stage from 22 to 26 July, with the final 16 teams divided into two groups and competing in a Best-of-Three (BO3) double-elimination format. All eyes will be on Group B, where Southeast Asian powerhouses—including reigning title defenders Team Liquid PH (TLPH) and inaugural MSC at EWC winners Selangor Red Giants (SRG)—are set for an early showdown in the opening phase. The top four teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage from 29 to 31 July, forming an eight-team Best-of-Five (BO5) single-elimination bracket. The tournament will culminate in a Best-of-Seven (BO7) Grand Finals on 1 August, where the new MSC champion will be crowned.
MWI at EWC 26 will take place from 14 to 18 July, opening with a Group Stage featuring 16 teams divided into two groups. Group B delivers one of the tournament's early marquee storylines, with defending champions and three-time MWI winners, Team Vitality, beginning their title defence. Returning as EWC's sole women's tournament, MWI at EWC 26 will showcase the world's best women's MLBB talent following its expansion into a fully realised global championship, with qualification pathways spanning more than 60 regions.
Under the “Two Champions, One Game” banner, MLBB returns to EWC for the third consecutive year with both MSC and MWI. Together, MWI and MSC continue MLBB's growing legacy at EWC. According to Esports Charts, EWC 25 delivered record-breaking viewership across both MLBB tournaments, with MSC becoming the most-watched tournament in the event's history and the first to surpass 3 million PCV. MWI reached 496,995 PCV and became the first women's esports tournament in history to surpass 100,000 Average Viewers (AV).
Tickets for both MLBB tournaments at EWC 26 are now on sale, giving fans the chance to experience "Two Champions, One Game" in person. Fans can enjoy 15% off tickets with the exclusive discount codes MLBBW15 for MWI at EWC 26 and MLBB15 for MSC at EWC 26.
