The Esports Foundation has announced that this year’s Esports World Cup will feature an EA Sports FC 26 Showmatch with Karim Benzema.
The legendary former Real Madrid and France striker will likely be playing against EA FC esports pros during the Showmatch on July 26 in Paris.
The 38-year-old forward now plays for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, where he scored 17 goals in 24 appearances last year.
His Saudi League rival and former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, was recently announced as an Esports World Cup ambassador.
What to Expect From Benzema EWC Showmatch
The Esports World Cup has regularly featured a celebrity showmatch with professional footballers each year.
The first iteration back in 2024 featured Neymar, back when he was playing for Al-Hilal, and Team Falcons founder Mossad ‘Msdossary’ Aldossary.
The Brazilian icon battled the former EA FC/FIFA pro at Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League and Tekken 8.
Then, last year, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka faced each other in matches of EA Sports FC 25.
Benzema’s Showmatch will also feature him playing EA FC, but it has not been confirmed who he will face.
The July 26 date means it will take place the same day as the Diogo Jota FC Pro World Championship Trophy final at EWC 2026.
The FC Pro Championship was renamed in tribute to late Liverpool forward Jota, due to his love for gaming and esports.
The tournament will see the 36 best EA FC 26 players battle it out to become world champion and claim a lion’s share of the $1.5m prize pool.
It will be the last EA FC esports tournament before EA Sports FC 27 releases.
What legendary footballer would you most like to see Benzema play against in the showmatch? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.
And learn more about the Esports World Cup’s strategy in our interview with Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer at the Esports Foundation. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
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