On 9 April 2026 ahead of the release of the WPC Rankings for the 2025/2026 season, the WPC board held a formal meeting with Phygital International.
Looking at the 2025/2026 season, it is clear that the phygital movement is growing rapidly across the globe.
Following the meeting, it was agreed that the WPC team quotas for the Games of the Future 2026 would be increased – to a total of 10 slots:
- The top four teams in the 2025/2026 WPC Tournament ranking across Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball and Phygital Dancing will earn direct entry to GOTF 2026.
- The remaining six slots for these disciplines will be contested at Phygital Contenders in Astana.
This decision is aimed at supporting the growth of the phygital movement, improving tournament formats, and strengthening member loyalty.
In addition, direct slots will also be awarded to the winners of the Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as well as to teams representing the Host City 2026 and Host City 2027.
Teams that are ranked 5th and below in the upcoming season rankings will compete at Phygital Contenders this June, as per the approved ranking regulations. Based on the results of Phygital Contenders, teams that finish in the top four of the competition, along with the next top two best teams according to Phygital Contenders rankings, will secure their place at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana.
As announced last December, there will be no Phygital Contenders for Phygital Shooter ahead of GOTF 2026. Instead, all verified ranking teams will earn direct entry to GOTF 2026 with further details to be published in the coming days.
