PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026 sets its Grand Final lineup with some big names missing

I am not sure how many people would agree with this, but I am a much bigger fan of a tournament's Survival stage than the Grand Final. It feels more tense, more scrappy, very last-chance saloon. And for the participants of the 2026 PUBG MOBILE World Cup, those saloon doors have now slammed shut, as we have our Grand Final lineup locked in. 

16 teams went into the Survival Stage with everything to lose, and even more to gain. The winners advanced with a seat at the Grand Final and a chance at claiming the ultimate PUBG esports title. The losers left with nothing more than bruised egos and at least one week's worth of regret. Maybe a month's worth if they got really close. 

After two days of intense, nail-biting action, Tianba claimed the top spot in the Survival Stage. AlUla Club and NS RedForce round out the podium, with all three headed to the Grand Final later this year. Despite not winning a game, Furia managed to score a massive 85 points, which was enough to also see them through.

Despite a strong showing, Wolves Esports came agonisingly close to qualification, but stumbled at the last. That, however, is not the biggest shock of the stage. World champions Alpha7 Esports failed to make the cut, as did 2025 PUBG Mobile World Champions Yangon Galacticos. 

With these two big names shockingly out, the race has really opened up ahead of the Grand Final, set to kick off in Paris today and lasting until August 16th. There are still some big names in contention, including 4Thrives, GodLike Esports, and Team Vitality, but if the loss of Alpha 7 Esports is anything to go by, then we could be in for an upset. And don’t we all just love an underdog story?

You can get close to the action by downloading PUBG Mobile from the App Store and Google Play. Or follow the Grand Final action on the official YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch channels.