Phygital Contenders lineup confirmed!

The World Phygital Community has announced its final rankings for the 2025/26 tournament season – and we now know who must compete in Phygital Contenders this June to earn their final place.

Contenders, get ready!

From June 10–15, athletes from 23 different countries will go head-to-head across three phygital disciplines: Phygital Football (16 clubs), Phygital Basketball (10 clubs) and Phygital Dancing (15 athletes). There is no Phygital Shooter competition as all 8 ranked teams qualified for GOTF 2026.

Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana marks the decisive moment in the season, where the final places at GOTF will be confirmed and we know who will be competing to be global phygital champions and win a share of a prize fund of over US$4 million.

This year’s competition brings together established names and rising stars from across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America – setting the stage for a truly global showdown.

In Phygital Football, one of the most popular disciplines, a strong international field will take to the stage, with teams such as KMF Titograd from Montenegro returning with unfinished business after narrowly missing out on a place at GOTF 2025 last year. Other teams include first-timers Lahore Athletics from Pakistan, and OEASTE SP, one of the most successful Liga Fut7 teams in Brazil.

In Phygital Basketball the winners of Phygital Rivals Spain, Valencia Basket 3x3, will arrive as one of the new phygital teams to watch. Representing the city’s professional 3x3 team, they will face strong opponents including Boca, the official 3x3 team of Boca Juniors from Argentina, and Serbia’s 2025 3x3 champions, Vozdovac, who will also be looking to secure their place at the Games.

Meanwhile, blending rhythm, precision and physical endurance, Phygital Dancing will bring together a truly international line-up of performers from across the globe, featuring established names such as Brazil-based GOTF 2025 runner-up Tiago Silva and Netherlands-based Dion Visser, alongside emerging talents including Lala Geborgyan from Armenia and Jose Campos from Peru.

You can view the full rankings here.

A preview of what’s to come

Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana also provides an early opportunity to showcase the host city ahead of the Games of the Future 2026, positioning Astana at the centre of the global phygital calendar. 

The Games of the Future 2026 will take place from 29 July to 9 August in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together more than 900 participants from over 50 countries. The event will feature multiple phygital disciplines - including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter as well as Phygital Fighting - alongside esports competitions such as MOBA (PC and mobile) and Battle Royale. 

Stay with us for live results, team updates and all the behind-the-scenes action throughout the tournament.

For more information on Phygital Contenders: Astana and the Games of the Future 2026, visit gofuture.games or contact press@phygitalinternational.com. 

Media interested in covering Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana and/or the Games of the Future 2026 will soon be able to apply for accreditation please visit the Media Centre at GOTF2026 website for the latest updates.