These are the teams that will represent their countries at the UNIVERSITY Esports Masters 2026 international championship
They have emerged victorious and now have their sights set on the international title. This is the mindset with which university players from more than 14 countries across the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) are approaching the major challenge that awaits them this weekend. From Saturday, the participating students will begin their campaign representing their nations in the 2026 edition of the UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UEM) in the VALORANT category.
Over the past few weeks, the national qualifiers have taken place, serving as a prelude to the international phase. All the winning teams have demonstrated a high standard of competition, which has now opened the door for them to play against opponents from other parts of the world. It will be a unique opportunity to compete in a professional setting, learn about different cultures and enjoy an unforgettable experience that will enrich them for their future careers.
Countries, dates, prizes, and further information
The road to the top of university esports in EMEA is entering its final stretch. This weekend sees the international stage of VALORANT (11 and 12 July).
The tournament will feature representatives from a total of 14 countries: Turkey (Winx Club v2, Bursa Uludag University); Croatia (University of Zagreb, Sveucilište u Zagrebu); the Czech Republic (Mighty Eagles, Vysoká škola technická a ekonomická v Ceských Budejovicích); the United Kingdom (Staffordshire Esports, University of Staffordshire); Spain (UCAM Esports University, UCAM); Ireland (DCU Esports, Dublin City University); Germany (RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen University); Italy (PoliTo E-Sports, Politecnico di Torino); Portugal (UMinho´s Team, University of Minho); Belgium (PXL Esports, Hogeschool PXL); the Netherlands (Zephyr Nyx, Eindhoven University of Technology); Jordan (Middle East University); Morocco (Velocity, University Hassan 2); and Egypt (ACX, Capital University).
Two weeks later, the players who have qualified in League of Legends will also begin their international campaign on 25 and 26 July. The participating nations will be the same as in the VALORANT tournament, with the exception that France will be represented instead of Egypt.
As well as being crowned champions of the 2026 UEM tournament, the winning teams in League of Legends and VALORANT will receive a total prize of €2,000 (1,000 per game).
The growth of esports worldwide
The global esports sector is entering a phase of maturity, following the massive growth the industry experienced between 2018 and 2022. The most recent estimates put the global esports market at around USD 3 billion by 2025, with revenue projected to double to $6 billion by 2030 (data from the Global Esports Market Report 2025).
GGTech Entertainment is one of the key drivers behind the national and international boom in the esports scene, thanks to projects such as UNIVERSITY Esports Masters, which promote the growth of this industry amongst university students in partnership with Riot Games.