One map down, then nothing went right for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia had the first word. They took the opening map 2-0 on Nepal and, for about twenty minutes, looked like the story of the night.
Then South Korea woke up. The Koreans rattled off four straight wins to close out the 2026 Overwatch World Cup grand final 4-1 overnight from Sunday to Monday in Anaheim, California: 3-1 on Neon Junction, 3-2 on New Junk City, 2-1 on Route 66, and 106.46 meters to 100.74 on Esperanca. Kim “Simple” Ji-sung was named final MVP.
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France led the semi-final and still went home
Les Bleus were two maps up on South Korea. They had taken Samoa 2-1 and Route 66 2-1, and the final was right there.
The Koreans flipped it. Esperanca went their way 112.99 meters to 80.03, then New Junk City 3-2, then Eichenwalde 3-2. Three tight maps on the bounce, and France were out 3-2 with the final one step away.
The response came fast. A few hours later, France beat Sweden 3-1 for third place. They edged Samoa 2-1, dropped Route 66 3-0, then buried Esperanca 141.97 meters to 3.9 before closing it out on Aatlis 3-1.
Sixteen nations, one trophy, no prize pool yet
The competition opened in Busan from 20 to 23 August with sixteen national teams in the group stage. The top two from each group moved into the knockout bracket played across Saturday and Sunday.
South Korea finished ahead of Saudi Arabia, France and Sweden. Spain, Germany, Australia and the United States shared places 5 to 8.
Organisers still have not put a number on the prize money. South Korea leave Anaheim with the only thing anyone was counting anyway.
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