Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 has ended and four of the six remaining slots for Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball and Phygital Dancing at the Games of the Future 2026 have been confirmed.
Held from 10–14 June, Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 brought together some of the best clubs and athletes from across the World Phygital Community (WPC). Featuring incredible performances across all three disciplines, the event saw more than 200 participants representing 20+ WPC member organizations compete at three venues across Astana, all aiming to secure qualification for the Games of the Future 2026.
After five days of intense competition, the top four clubs from both Phygital Football and Phygital Basketball, along with four athletes from Phygital Dancing, had secured their places at the Games of the Future 2026. The final two slots for each discipline will be determined by ranking points and announced over the coming weeks. The clubs and athletes qualifying are:
Phygital Football:
- WINNERS: ACF x Allur (Qazaq Cybersport Federation)
- KMF Titograd (Alliance of electronic sports of Montenegro)
- NS Team (Asociación de Deportes Electrónicos y Videojuegos de Argentina)
- FC OLYMPIC PHYGITAL (Federation of Phygital sports of Uzbekistan)
Phygital Basketball:
- WINNERS: ZM NITUI (Croatian eSports Federation)
- MINSK (Belarusian Federation of Phygital Sports)
- Triada (ADCS)
- Valencia Basket (Phygital Games Spain)
Phygital Dancing:
- WINNER: Andres Guardo (BUENOS TIEMPOS S.A.S.)
- Sagdi (Federation of Phygital sports of Uzbekistan)
- Susan Huertas (Asociación de Deportes Electrónicos de Guatemala)
- Sergio Mayta (ESPORTS ENTERTAINMENT E.I.R.L)
Alisher Mukanali from ACF x Allur, winners of Phygital Football, said: “It feels so good to win at home. I love the support we’ve received here because it has helped us play better. To all the fans, you don’t want to miss the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana.”
Jan Kroflin from ZM NITUI, winners of Phygital Basketball, said, “The overall experience at Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 was excellent. The effort put in by the organizers was at an extremely high level. Now our attention turns to the Games of the Future 2026. We’ll keep doing what we do and continue improving both our physical and digital game.”
For many participants, Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 represented the culmination of months of competition – highlighting both the growing global reach of phygital sport and the increasing competitiveness of the qualification pathway.
Dan Merkley, Chairperson and Managing Director of the World Phygital Community: “Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 has been a fitting conclusion to an exceptional qualification season across the World Phygital Community. Every club and athlete competing this week earned their place through months of dedication – and the standard of competition reflected that journey. The performances we witnessed across all three disciplines showcased the very best of phygital sport. To those who have secured their place at the Games of the Future 2026, congratulations. We look forward to welcoming you back to Astana this summer.”
Fans can relive all the action from Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 through highlights and full match replays on Phygital+.
With qualification now complete, attention turns to the Games of the Future 2026 next month. The full lineup of clubs and athletes – including the final qualification slots from the WPC qualification pathway – will be announced soon.
For the latest news and updates, visit the Games of the Future website and follow the GOTF social media channels.
