In 2023, the fifth Overwatch World Cup competition will crown the first World Cup champion since 2019. Reigning champion United States and three-time winner South Korea will try to build on their legacy with another gold medal, but the launch of Overwatch 2 brings new competitors to the scene! Will a new champion be crowned this year? It is time to meet your competing countries and regions, including Asia-Pacific representatives India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand!
World Cup Trials and Online Qualifier Competing Countries and Regions
The program will consist of three conferences, each with two separate groups of six countries and regions. These countries and regions have been selected based on Overwatch 2 player population data. In February, competition committee applications begin. Additionally, each participating country and region will host World Cup Trials over three weekends in February (Feb. 10–12, Feb. 17–19, and Feb. 24–26). Competition committees will be responsible for organizing additional team tryouts in March and finalizing a team of seven players in April.
In June, teams will compete within their groups to earn one of 16 spots at the LAN finals, scheduled to be held in the fall of 2023. Given the current dynamics in China, and that a team from China has always performed very well, including two second-place finishes in the last two Overwatch World Cups, a Team from China will receive a direct invitation to the Group Stage. There will be no World Cup Trials in China, and the Team will not compete in the Online Qualifiers. The tryouts process in China will differ from that of other countries/regions. We will share more information with players in the China region regarding that process directly.
Here is a breakdown of the 36 teams and six groups for the online qualifiers:
Asia-Pacific Conference (APAC):
| APAC A | APAC B |
| Chinese Taipei | Australia |
| Hong Kong | India |
| Indonesia | Malaysia |
| Japan | New Zealand |
| Philippines | Singapore |
| South Korea | Thailand |
Americas Conference (AMER):
| AMER A | AMER B |
| Canada | Argentina |
| Costa Rica | Brazil |
| Guatemala | Chile |
| Mexico | Colombia |
| Puerto Rico | Ecuador |
| United States | Peru |
Europe and Middle East Conference (EMEC):
| EMEC A | EMEC B |
| Belgium | Germany |
| France | Norway |
| Great Britain | Poland |
| Italy | Saudi Arabia |
| Netherlands | Sweden |
| Spain | Turkey |
With a team from China securing one of the 16 spots advancing to groups, this is the distribution of remaining 15 spots that teams will compete for in the online qualifiers.
| AMER A | EMEC A | APAC A | AMER B | EMEC B | APAC B |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Competition Committees
Each team will be represented by a competition committee that consists of the following three roles:
- General Manager: responsible for team operations and communications with Blizzard
- Coach: responsible for leading tryouts, player selection, and all competitive aspects of the team
- Social Lead: responsible for the team’s social media, content, and engagement initiatives
Think you got what it takes to lead your homeland’s competition committee? Here’s how you can get involved:
STEP 1
- Create a video that describes who you are, why you want to be a competition committee member, and what unique advantages you can bring to the space.
STEP 2
- Fill out a web form (name, email, Discord, Battle.net, etc.)
- Written statements for Step 1 will be accepted here in lieu of a video
STEP 3
- If selected, Blizzard will reach out via email or Discord with the next steps
- Aspiring committee members can complete the online application now. The submission window will close Jan. 30, 2023. The selection process will be finalised from Feb. 1–10, with Blizzard selecting the committee members for each country and region. To be an eligible Committee Candidate or prospective player for the 2023 Overwatch World Cup, you must be over the age of 18 by Oct. 1, 2023.
Stay Informed
Follow Overwatch and Path to Pro on Twitter for updates. We will reveal your final competition committees and player rosters through these channels. A new website experience is also on the way! If there are any questions or concerns, you’re welcome to reach out to us.
Heroes, the stage is set, and the world is watching! Are you ready to support your homeland and become the 2023 Overwatch World Cup champions?
