# 2018 Overwatch World Cup

The 2018 Overwatch World Cup was an Overwatch esports tournament, organized by Blizzard Entertainment, the game's developer. It was the third Overwatch World Cup. It featured 24 represented nations from around the world, with the final tournament taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center during BlizzCon from November 2–3, 2018.
The final took place on November 2 between South Korea and China. South Korea won 4–0, winning their third straight World Cup title.

## Teams
### Committees

Each country has a National Competition Committee, consisting of a general manager, head coach, and community lead. Blizzard selected each team's general manager, while the head coach and community leads were selected through a two-step voting process, that took place from May 24 to May 30.
Any player with a Blizzard account in good standing was welcome to apply for a head coaching position for their country; the country's top 150 players voted for who they would like to be their country's head coach. The top three candidates from the first round of voting moved on to a second round of voting, and the person with the most votes in the second round was selected as the country's head coach.
The community leaders are responsible for "rallying their community and marketing their team to the masses." Like the head coaches, the community lead for each country was chosen through a two-step voting process. A country's entire player base voted for the community lead. After the first round of voting, the top 10 from that round were candidates for the second round; the person with the most votes in the second round was selected as their country's community lead.

### Players

They players representing each country were selected by their National Competition Committee. The Committees selected up to 12 players from June 1 to July 5 to represent their country and then had to cut it down to 7 players to be their final roster.

### Qualification

From March 28 to April 28, 2018, Blizzard tracked the average skill rating of the top 150 players from the top 20 countries to determine the countries who qualified for the tournament. The four host countries, South Korea, Thailand, France, and the United States, automatically qualified.

## Venues

IncheonLos AngelesBangkokParisAnaheim :
| Incheon | Bangkok |
| Studio Paradise | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Capacity: 2,300 | Capacity: 2,000 |
| Los Angeles | Paris |
| Blizzard Arena | Espace Grande Arche |
| Capacity: 450 | Capacity: 2,500 |
| Anaheim ||
| Anaheim Convention Center ||
| Capacity: 7,500 ||

## Group stage

The top 24 national teams were grouped into four different round-robin style groups, with the matches played in Incheon, Los Angeles, Bangkok, and Paris. The top two teams in each group advanced to a single-elimination playoff bracket, with the matches played in Anaheim.

### Incheon stage

| Pos | Team | W | L | MW | ML | MD | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea (H) | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | +17 | Advance to playoffs |
| 2 | Finland | 4 | 1 | 16 | 4 | +12 | Advance to playoffs |
| 3 | Russia | 3 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | |
| 4 | Japan | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | −4 | |
| 5 | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | −10 | |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | −20 | |
| Day 1 | August 17 | Russia | 4 | – | 0 | Hong Kong | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 1 | August 17 | South Korea | 4 | – | 0 | Chinese Taipei | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 1 | August 17 | Hong Kong | 0 | – | 4 | Finland | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 1 | August 17 | Russia | 3 | – | 1 | Japan | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 1 | August 17 | Finland | 2 | – | 3 | South Korea | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 2 | August 18 | Hong Kong | 0 | – | 4 | South Korea | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 2 | August 18 | Japan | 3 | – | 1 | Chinese Taipei | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 2 | August 18 | Russia | 1 | – | 2 | Finland | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 2 | August 18 | Chinese Taipei | 4 | – | 0 | Hong Kong | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 2 | August 18 | South Korea | 4 | – | 0 | Japan | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 3 | August 19 | Finland | 4 | – | 0 | Japan | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 3 | August 19 | Russia | 4 | – | 0 | Chinese Taipei | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 3 | August 19 | Japan | 4 | – | 0 | Hong Kong | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 3 | August 19 | Russia | 0 | – | 4 | South Korea | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
| Day 3 | August 19 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | – | 4 | Finland | Incheon, KR |
| | | | | | | | Studio Paradise |
Source: OWWC

### Los Angeles stage

| Pos | Team | W | L | MW | ML | MD | Qualification |
| 1 | United States (H) | 5 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | Advance to playoffs |
| 2 | Canada | 4 | 1 | 17 | 3 | +14 | Advance to playoffs |
| 3 | Brazil | 3 | 2 | 10 | 11 | −1 | |
| 4 | Norway | 2 | 3 | 8 | 13 | −5 | |
| 5 | Austria | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 | −11 | |
| 6 | Switzerland | 0 | 5 | 4 | 17 | −13 | |
| Day 1 | September 7 | Austria | 0 | – | 4 | Canada | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 1 | September 7 | Norway | 3 | – | 1 | Switzerland | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 1 | September 7 | Canada | 4 | – | 0 | Brazil | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 1 | September 7 | Austria | 0 | – | 4 | United States | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 1 | September 7 | Norway | 2 | – | 3 | Brazil | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 2 | September 8 | Switzerland | 2 | – | 3 | Austria | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 2 | September 8 | Brazil | 1 | – | 3 | United States | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 2 | September 8 | Norway | 0 | – | 4 | Canada | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 2 | September 8 | United States | 4 | – | 0 | Switzerland | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 2 | September 8 | Brazil | 3 | – | 1 | Austria | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 3 | September 9 | Norway | 3 | – | 1 | Austria | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 3 | September 9 | Canada | 4 | – | 0 | Switzerland | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 3 | September 9 | Norway | 0 | – | 4 | United States | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 3 | September 9 | Switzerland | 1 | – | 3 | Brazil | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
| Day 3 | September 9 | Canada | 1 | – | 3 | United States | Los Angeles, CA |
| | | | | | | | Blizzard Arena |
Source: OWWC

### Bangkok stage

| Pos | Team | W | L | MW | ML | MD | Qualification |
| 1 | China | 5 | 0 | 16 | 7 | +9 | Advance to playoffs |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | Advance to playoffs |
| 3 | Denmark | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | |
| 4 | Sweden | 3 | 2 | 11 | 10 | +1 | |
| 5 | Thailand (H) | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | −7 | |
| 6 | Spain | 0 | 5 | 3 | 16 | −13 | |
| Day 1 | September 14 | Denmark | 3 | – | 1 | Thailand | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 1 | September 14 | Spain | 1 | – | 3 | Australia | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 1 | September 14 | China | 3 | – | 1 | Sweden | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 1 | September 14 | Spain | 1 | – | 2 | Denmark | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 1 | September 14 | Thailand | 0 | – | 4 | Australia | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 2 | September 15 | Australia | 1 | – | 3 | Denmark | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 2 | September 15 | China | 3 | – | 2 | Thailand | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 2 | September 15 | Sweden | 0 | – | 4 | Australia | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 2 | September 15 | Denmark | 2 | – | 3 | China | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 2 | September 15 | Spain | 0 | – | 4 | Sweden | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 3 | September 16 | Thailand | 1 | – | 3 | Sweden | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 3 | September 16 | Spain | 0 | – | 4 | China | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 3 | September 16 | Sweden | 3 | – | 2 | Denmark | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 3 | September 16 | Australia | 2 | – | 3 | China | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
| Day 3 | September 16 | Spain | 1 | – | 3 | Thailand | Bangkok, TH |
| | | | | | | | Royal Paragon Hall |
Source: OWWC

### Paris stage

| Pos | Team | W | L | MW | ML | MD | Qualification |
| 1 | France (H) | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | +17 | Advance to playoffs |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 4 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | Advance to playoffs |
| 3 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | ±0 | |
| 4 | Germany | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | −2 | |
| 5 | Italy | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 | −11 | |
| 6 | Poland | 0 | 5 | 4 | 18 | −14 | |
| Day 1 | September 21 | Netherlands | 0 | – | 4 | France | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 1 | September 21 | Germany | 1 | – | 3 | United Kingdom | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 1 | September 21 | Poland | 2 | – | 3 | Italy | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 1 | September 21 | Netherlands | 3 | – | 1 | Germany | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 1 | September 21 | Poland | 0 | – | 4 | United Kingdom | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 2 | September 22 | Germany | 2 | – | 3 | France | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 2 | September 22 | Italy | 1 | – | 3 | Netherlands | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 2 | September 22 | Poland | 2 | – | 3 | Germany | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 2 | September 22 | Italy | 0 | – | 4 | France | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 2 | September 22 | Netherlands | 0 | – | 4 | United Kingdom | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 3 | September 23 | Italy | 1 | – | 3 | Germany | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 3 | September 23 | Poland | 0 | – | 4 | France | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 3 | September 23 | Italy | 0 | – | 4 | United Kingdom | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 3 | September 23 | Poland | 0 | – | 4 | Netherlands | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
| Day 3 | September 23 | United Kingdom | 0 | – | 4 | France | Paris, FR |
| | | | | | | | Espace Grande Arche |
Source: OWWC

## Knockout stage

The top two teams from each group advanced to the playoff bracket. All of the playoff rounds took place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California during BlizzCon.
To coincide with the event, Blizzard launched the "Overwatch World Cup Viewer," a standalone program that allows users to view World Cup matches in real time in Overwatch's spectator mode, roam around the map in a free camera, and take the perspectives of the players. Users were also able to view replays of each map played in the client.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| United States | United States | 1 | | | | | | |
| United Kingdom | United Kingdom | 3 | | | | | | |
| United Kingdom | United Kingdom | 3 | United Kingdom | United Kingdom | 0 | | | |
| | | | South Korea | South Korea | 2 | | | |
| South Korea | South Korea | 3 | South Korea | South Korea | 2 | | | |
| Australia | Australia | 0 | | | | | | |
| Australia | Australia | 0 | | | | South Korea | South Korea | 4 |
| | | | | | | China | China | 0 |
| China | China | 3 | | | | China | China | 0 |
| Finland | Finland | 0 | | | | | | |
| Finland | Finland | 0 | China | China | 3 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | Canada | Canada | 0 | | | |
| France | France | 0 | Canada | Canada | 0 | | | |
| France | France | 0 | | | | United Kingdom | United Kingdom | 2 |
| Canada | Canada | 3 | | | | United Kingdom | United Kingdom | 2 |
| Canada | Canada | 3 | | | | Canada | Canada | 3 |

### Quarterfinals

| November 2 | United States | 1 | – | 3 | United Kingdom | Anaheim, CA |
| 1:15 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Ilios | Ilios | Ilios | 0 | |
| | 0 | King's Row | King's Row | King's Row | 1 | |
| | 3 | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | 4 | |
| | 2 | Route 66 | Route 66 | Route 66 | 3 | |
| November 2 | South Korea | 3 | – | 0 | Australia | Anaheim, CA |
| 7:15 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Busan | Busan | Busan | 0 | |
| | 3 | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | 2 | |
| | 2 | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | 1 | |
| November 2 | China | 3 | – | 0 | Finland | Anaheim, CA |
| 5:15 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Lijiang Tower | Lijiang Tower | Lijiang Tower | 1 | |
| | 3 | Hollywood | Hollywood | Hollywood | 1 | |
| | 4 | Hanamura | Hanamura | Hanamura | 3 | |
| November 2 | France | 0 | – | 3 | Canada | Anaheim, CA |
| 3:15 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 1 | Busan | Busan | Busan | 2 | |
| | 2 | Eichenwalde | Eichenwalde | Eichenwalde | 3 | |
| | 4 | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | 5 | |

### Semifinals

| November 3 | United Kingdom | 0 | – | 2 | South Korea | Anaheim, CA |
| 9:30 am PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 1 | Nepal | Nepal | Nepal | 2 | |
| | 3 | King's Row | King's Row | King's Row | 3 | |
| | 3 | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | 3 | |
| | 1 | Rialto | Rialto | Rialto | 2 | |
| November 3 | China | 3 | – | 0 | Canada | Anaheim, CA |
| 11:30 am PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Oasis | Oasis | Oasis | 1 | |
| | 3 | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | 0 | |
| | 2 | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | 1 | |

### Third place

| November 3 | United Kingdom | 2 | – | 3 | Canada | Anaheim, CA |
| 1:30 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Busan | Busan | Busan | 0 | |
| | 1 | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | Blizzard World | 2 | |
| | 3 | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | Volskaya Industries | 2 | |
| | 2 | Junkertown | Junkertown | Junkertown | 3 | |
| | 0 | Lijiang Tower | Lijiang Tower | Lijiang Tower | 2 | |

### Finals

| November 3 | South Korea | 4 | – | 0 | China | Anaheim, CA |
| 3:45 pm PDT | | | | | | Anaheim Convention Center |
| | 2 | Ilios | Ilios | Ilios | 0 | |
| | 3 | King's Row | King's Row | King's Row | 1 | |
| | 2 | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | Temple of Anubis | 1 | |
| | 4 | Watchpoint: Gibraltar | Watchpoint: Gibraltar | Watchpoint: Gibraltar | 3 | |