The Games of the Future 2026 officially opened in Astana on July 29, launching a 12-day international showcase that merges digital gaming with physical athletic competition. Featuring more than 800 participants from upwards of 50 nationalities, the tournament spans eight distinct disciplines with a prize pool exceeding four million dollars, according to event organizers.
Astana Hosts Hybrid Sports Spectacle
The phygital format places digital video game performance directly alongside real-world physical tests, carrying digital scores straight onto the playing field. Last year’s edition generated more than 450 million broadcast views globally. Organizers aim to surpass that milestone in the Kazakh capital through a broadcast network spanning five continents across television, streaming networks, and digital content creators.
Spanish Contenders Enter the Global Stage
Spain is represented in Astana by four distinct teams competing across three of the tournament’s eight official disciplines, as confirmed by rosters published by tournament organizers and the World Phygital Community (WPC). Juan Anguix, president of Phygital Games Spain, stated in an interview with the World Phygital Community that the Spanish delegations arrived aiming to compete at the highest level, demonstrate their training quality, learn from elite international rosters, and contend for titles.
Valencia Basket 3×3 Claims Opening Victory
Valencia Basket 3×3 opened their campaign in the Phygital Basketball world championship with a 32-26 victory over Boca Juniors at the Qazaqstan Sports Complex. The Spanish side secured their spot among the top four teams in the Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 bracket after winning the Phygital Games Spain qualifiers. Comprising Marcos Reos, Lu Zijie, and Mohamed Hamed, Valencia built a 20-15 advantage in the video game phase before closing out a 12-11 win on the physical court. The basketball tournament runs through August 3.
Football and Shooter Disciplines Expand Spanish Presence
In Phygital Football, which combines the UFL video game with a real five-a-side soccer match, Noname Club qualified through the World Phygital Community ecosystem to compete for a share of the 625,000-dollar prize pool when competition begins on August 4. Los Troncos FC, a Kings League side linked to streamer Perxitaa, also enters the football bracket. A draw held on July 7 paired Los Troncos FC against Peñarol, the reigning champions from the inaugural Games of the Future. Meanwhile, Clan Pedrajas represents Spain in Phygital Shooter, a Counter-Strike 2-based event combining a tactical shooter video game with a physical laser tag arena featuring a 150,000-dollar prize pool.
Schedule and Global Broadcasting
Competition runs from July 29 through August 9, concluding with the finals for MOBA Mobile (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) and Phygital Football. The eight official disciplines include Phygital Basketball, Phygital Football, Phygital Shooter, Phygital Fighting, Phygital Dancing, MOBA PC (Dota 2), MOBA Mobile (MLBB), and Battle Royale (PUBG: Battlegrounds).
All sessions stream live and on demand via Phygital+, the official platform of the Games of the Future, alongside selected broadcasts on official YouTube and Twitch channels. International distribution partners include BIGG TV in France and worldwide, ESR TV in the United States and worldwide, Fox Sports Mexico, StarTimes in Africa, Unbeaten in Australia, and Play TV in Brazil. Domestic coverage in Kazakhstan is handled by QazSport, Q Sport, and Sport Plus Qazaqstan, while more than 50 content creators broadcast the event through the Community Streaming Program.
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