Razambek Jamalov and Gulomjon Abdullaev won gold medals at the tournament in Turkey

The Rainbow Six Siege tournament as part of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) kicks off this Tuesday (the 4th) in Paris, bringing together 22 leading teams from around the world. Brazil is participating in the competition through teams such as FaZe Clan, FURIA, Team Liquid Alienware, and MiBR.LOS, striving to achieve an unprecedented title for its country.

In addition to a total prize pool of 2 million US dollars (which is about 10 million Brazilian reais at the current exchange rate), the winner will receive a direct pass to the Six Invitational 2027—the main global championship for this discipline, which will be held in Brazil.

Although Brazil is the most decorated country in the history of the competitive Rainbow Six Siege scene, it has not yet won the trophy for this discipline at the Esports World Cup. Since 2017, Brazilian teams have won nine out of 17 international tournaments, accumulating over 13 million US dollars (approximately 65 million Brazilian reais) in prize money.

Now, EWC presents an opportunity to add the single international title that is missing from the collection of Brazilian organizations.

The competition will feature 22 teams and will take place in four stages: Play-in (two rounds), Group Stage, Playoffs, and the Grand Final, scheduled for August 15th. This is the third edition of the Esports World Cup with a Rainbow Six Siege tournament, highlighting the significance of this title among the event's main disciplines.

Matches will be broadcast on official Ubisoft channels on Twitch and YouTube. Additional information about the competition will also be available on the organizer's official social media pages.

Springboks forwards coach Deon David stated that the team wants players returning from injuries to give their maximum effort in the game against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday evening.

The Springboks squad wants their returning stars to 'play with all their might for as long as possible' during their comeback against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Captain Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth, and Luke de Jager, flanker South Africa's Sacha Feinberg-Musengomozulu, halfback Handre Pollard, and scrum-half Morné van der Merwe are expected to return in the final test match before the clash with the All Blacks.

According to assistant coach Deon David, the primary objective is to restore these athletes' match fitness ahead of the upcoming match in the 'Great Rugby Rivalry' against New Zealand. Nevertheless, the Springboks are fully focused on the Los Pumas team and aim to secure another victory.

They anticipate a tough confrontation with the weaker Los Pumas side and understand that collective effort will be required for a win. David noted that the players have worked hard on their recovery from injuries, and the coaching staff simply wanted to see them gain valuable game experience before the intense series of matches.

'Obviously, we take into account when the players last played, and that will determine the intensity,' said David. He added that they have specific player management plans for the next few matches, as match fitness is a serious concern. Therefore, it is important for them to get on the field, prove themselves, and play at full capacity for as long as possible.

David emphasized that the team operates as a single unit, and all 23 players consider themselves vital to achieving a good result, so they are not concerned about overexertion on the returning stars. He expressed confidence in the players' readiness, noting that they have worked hard over the past couple of weeks to get back on the field, and they are looking forward to this moment.

The coach also mentioned that their immediate focus remains on Argentina. Although the All Blacks will conduct their 'Great Rugby Rivalry' campaign against the Stormers on Friday, the Boks intend to succeed in South America before shifting focus to their arch-rivals and the challenges awaiting them at home.

There is an ambition within the Boks camp to maintain their undefeated start to 2026 while bringing the returning players up to the necessary level for the upcoming six-week period. They have set specific goals, and the world champions do not view this match as a warm-up for the New Zealanders.

'This is a very important match for us given the upcoming difficulties. It gives us an opportunity to improve our own game and also ensures that our players are ready for the rest of the year. We also want to set certain standards as a team,' stated David. He added that Argentina presents a different challenge because it is a passionate and particularly audacious team when playing in Buenos Aires. He concluded that one always has to fight until the end when they visit there, and considers it a mistake to arrive thinking it is just the beginning.

Abdeslami Wadee, the head coach of Orlando Pirates, stated that he is using a more measured approach to the start of the new season. He acknowledged that he learned lessons from the early difficulties of last season and is now treating the club's new acquisitions with more patience as the team begins another intense campaign.

During the transfer window, the team significantly strengthened its squad by signing at least nine new players. These players are preparing for participation in domestic tournaments and the CAF Champions League. Four of these newcomers debuted in Saturday's victory over the recently promoted Milford FC, having been introduced in the second half as Pirates sought to gain maximum points on the opening day of the Betway Premiership season.

This tactical approach differs from last season, when Wadee quickly integrated new footballers into the main squad after taking over from Jose Rivera. This rapid start led to difficult moments, as Pirates suffered two consecutive defeats in the first two league matches, which immediately put pressure on the new coach.

This time, the Moroccan specialist decided to ensure greater stability by giving new players time to adapt to the club's demands. Wadee noted: 'New players, you know, even I am learning; it is never too late to learn.' He added that last season he wanted to rush the integration of new players into the starting lineup, whereas this season he started with greater stability in the squad.

Wadee believes that the gradual inclusion of new footballers will allow them to have a greater impact as the season progresses. He emphasized that the new players bring additional energy and control to the game, especially when brought on in the second half. He expressed confidence that they will feature more frequently throughout the season.

The victory over Milford provided Pirates with an ideal start in defending their title, but Wadee realizes that the upcoming challenges will increase significantly. The team is now focusing on the MTN8 tournament, where it will begin defending its title against Durban City on August 8th at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Pirates has won this tournament for the past four seasons and intends to continue dominating it while balancing its ambitions in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, and other cup competitions.