Esports Africa News engages with Dan Merkley, Chairperson and Managing Director of the World Phygital Community as he introduces the concept of phygital sport and provides an overview of the global ecosystem that has emerged around it.
The discussion explores how the format is developing internationally, the role of the World Phygital Community in structuring competitions, and the pathways that connect local tournaments to international events such as the Games of the Future.
Very importantly, the conversation also focuses on the growth of phygital sport across Africa, highlighting the progress made by WPC members on the continent, the opportunities available for athletes and clubs, and the potential for African markets to play an influential role in shaping the future of the sport.
- What is phygital sport, and what makes it different from traditional sport or esports on their own?
Phygital sport is a high-intensity competitive format that brings together digital gameplay and real-world athletic performance in one continuous match. Athletes compete across both digital and physical stages, with the score carrying over to determine the final result.
For example, in Phygital Basketball, teams first face off in a basketball video game, building a score that carries directly into a fast-paced 2v2 match on the court. The contest continues seamlessly across both stages, with the final result decided by the combined performance.
What sets phygital sport apart is the type of athlete it demands. Success is not defined solely by technical skill in-game or physical ability on the court, but by the capacity to perform across both. Teams must combine strategy, communication, adaptability, and execution, often under significant time pressure, as momentum can shift quickly between stages.
This approach also reflects how today’s athletes and fans engage with sport more broadly. Many athletes are already moving between physical training and digital competition as part of their routines, while fans increasingly follow events through a mix of live attendance, streaming, and highlights. Phygital sport brings these behaviors together into a structured competitive format, where both physical and digital skills are equally valued.
In that sense, it introduces not only a new format, but also new dynamics in terms of pace, athlete profiles, and team composition, creating a new frontier of competitive sport that feels more in tune with how people engage with competition in today’s world.
- Is phygital sport filling a gap in traditional sport structures, or creating an entirely new competitive category?
In many ways, phygital sport is doing both.
It responds to a clear gap in traditional structures, many of which were designed for a different era. Today’s athletes and fans no longer separate the physical and digital in the way previous generations once did. They train, compete, watch and connect across both environments. Phygital sport reflects that reality by aligning competition with how people already experience sport today.
At the same time, it goes beyond simply linking sport and gaming. Phygital competition operates with its own rules, ranking systems, performance requirements and international tournament calendar. Athletes compete across consecutive digital and physical stages, with the combined result determining the outcome, demanding preparation, adaptability and decision making across two competitive environments.
While phygital connects existing worlds, it is also establishing a distinct category of competition within the global sporting ecosystem, one that is helping shape the future of sport with its own standards, identity and performance demands.
- What is the Games of the Future, and why has it become the flagship global event for phygital sport?
The Games of the Future is an annual global tournament that brings together the world’s top phygital clubs and athletes in a competition that blends physical sport with digital gameplay. Hosted in a different city each year, it features fast-paced, high-intensity matchups across multiple disciplines, with teams qualifying through a global season of tournaments to compete on the biggest stage in phygital sport.
The scale of the event reflects the rapid growth of the phygital movement. The Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi brought together more than 850 participants from over 60 countries competing across 11 disciplines at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event welcomed more than 40,000 spectators onsite and reached a global audience of over 137 million viewers, generating 461 million broadcast views and an additional 388 million views across social media, alongside 59 million hours watched worldwide.
This momentum continues into the Games of the Future 2026, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan from 29 July to 9 August, bringing together top clubs and an estimated 900 athletes from around the world. The event will feature a US$4.75 million prize pool and eight confirmed disciplines including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter, Phygital Fighting, MOBA (PC), MOBA (Mobile) and Battle Royale.
For clubs and athletes across the phygital ecosystem, the Games of the Future represents the ultimate stage in phygital sport. It brings together the best competitors from around the world and demonstrates how digital and physical competition can exist within a single global sporting event, setting the benchmark for the future of phygital sport.
- For readers encountering the ecosystem for the first time, who are Phygital International and what role do they play in the development of phygital sport?
Phygital International (PI), our partner in the global development of phygital sport, plays a central role in shaping the international competitive ecosystem.
As the rights holder and custodian of the annual Games of the Future and Phygital Contenders qualifying tournaments, Phygital International oversees the flagship competitions that sit at the top of the global phygital calendar. These events bring together the best athletes, teams, and disciplines, and set the benchmark for what phygital sport looks like at an elite level.
However, its role extends well beyond event delivery. Phygital International works closely with partners, host cities, and stakeholders around the world to grow the ecosystem in a sustainable and scalable way. This includes selecting and supporting host destinations for future editions of the Games of the Future, with bidding already underway across multiple regions through to 2030, underscoring the vision to establish a truly global footprint for the phygital movement in the coming years.
Additionally, Phygital International also plays a key role in driving innovation within the sport. Through PI La b, it develops and tests new phygital disciplines, ensuring they meet high standards of competitiveness, entertainment, and audience engagement. Formats such as HADO have already emerged successfully from this process, while new concepts continue to be explored.
Alongside this, Phygital International works with commercial partners, sponsors, broadcasters, and media platforms to expand the reach of phygital sport and connect with new audiences worldwide.
Ultimately, its role is to shape the ecosystem and guide its growth, building a global platform where sport, technology, and entertainment come together, while redefining how sport will be experienced in the future..
- The World Phygital Community brings together organizations from around the world. What role does the WPC play in supporting members and structuring competitions at regional and national levels?
The World Phygital Community brings together organizations from around the world that are working to develop phygital sport within their local ecosystems. As a non-profit and non-commercial association, its role is to unite these efforts under a single global framework, creating a connected ecosystem where members are building, hosting and scaling competitions in alignment with a shared vision. Today, the community includes 119 members across 115 countries, with organizations in 34 African countries actively contributing to the growth of the ecosystem across the continent.
What sets the WPC apart is this structured international collaboration. Instead of operating in isolation, members are part of a unified network where competition formats, operational expertise, and development strategies are shared across markets. This allows emerging ecosystems to move faster, learn from proven models, and plug directly into a global pathway.
The WPC works closely with members to support the delivery of competitions at national and regional levels. Through tournaments such as Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals, members can host ranked events that feed into the global system, giving clubs and teams a clear route from local competition through to international stages such as the Games of the Future.
Beyond competition, the WPC supports members in building sustainable ecosystems. This includes integrating phygital sport into schools, universities and community programs, creating early entry points for young athletes and supporting the formation of clubs and local communities.
At the same time, the network creates ongoing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint development. Members are not only hosting competitions but contributing to a growing global movement that is shaping how phygital sport is developed, delivered and experienced worldwide.
- What is the Games of the Future, and why has it become the flagship global event for phygital sport?
The Games of the Future is an annual global tournament that brings together the world’s top phygital clubs and athletes in a competition that blends physical sport with digital gameplay. Hosted in a different city each year, it features fast-paced, high-intensity matchups across multiple disciplines, with teams qualifying through a global season of tournaments to compete on the biggest stage in phygital sport.
The scale of the event reflects the rapid growth of the phygital movement. The Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi brought together more than 850 participants from over 60 countries competing across 11 disciplines at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event welcomed more than 40,000 spectators onsite and reached a global audience of over 137 million viewers, generating 461 million broadcast views and an additional 388 million views across social media, alongside 59 million hours watched worldwide.
This momentum continues into the Games of the Future 2026, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan from 29 July to 9 August, bringing together top clubs and an estimated 900 athletes from around the world. The event will feature a US$4.75 million prize pool and eight confirmed disciplines including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter, Phygital Fighting, MOBA (PC), MOBA (Mobile) and Battle Royale.
For clubs and athletes across the phygital ecosystem, the Games of the Future represents the ultimate stage in phygital sport. It brings together the best competitors from around the world and demonstrates how digital and physical competition can exist within a single global sporting event, setting the benchmark for the future of phygital sport.
- What makes Africa a strategic growth market for phygital sport?
Africa represents one of the most promising regions for the future growth of phygital sport. The continent has the youngest population globally, and that generation is highly connected through mobile technology, gaming platforms, and social networks.
At the same time, there is a deep cultural connection to physical sport across many communities. Football, basketball, and athletics already play an important role in everyday life, and phygital sport sits naturally at the intersection of that strong sporting culture and rapidly growing digital engagement.
Another important factor is the pace of digital adoption. In many African markets, mobile technology and online gaming communities have expanded rapidly, creating an environment where digital competition and physical participation can develop together. Because phygital formats can use facilities that already exist in many communities, such as football pitches, basketball courts, and community venues, local organizers can introduce competitions without significant infrastructure barriers.
This momentum is already visible through the growth of the ecosystem. Today, 34 African member organizations are part of the World Phygital Community, representing nearly a quarter of our global membership. As more clubs, communities, and organizers become involved, Africa continues to emerge as a key region for the long-term development of phygital sport.
- Several WPC members across Africa have already hosted tournaments within the global competition cycle. What progress have you seen from members on the continent so far?
We have seen very encouraging progress from WPC members across Africa, particularly in the consistency with which competitions are now being delivered. Members in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso have each hosted phygital tournaments for two consecutive seasons, helping establish stable phygital competition calendars and giving clubs and athletes regular opportunities to compete within the global ranking pathway.
At the same time, the ecosystem is expanding into new markets. Members in countries such as Lesotho have begun organizing phygital tournaments, introducing the format to new communities and creating additional entry points for clubs and athletes within the international competition cycle.
We are also seeing the range of disciplines grow. This season, our member in South Africa hosted the continent’s first Phygital Shooter tournament, marking an important milestone for the development of new competitive formats in the region.
Beyond tournaments, there is also growing ambition from African members to play a larger role within the global ecosystem. An organization in South Africa alongside our member has submitted a bid to host the Games of the Future 2027 alongside bids from Serbia, Uzbekistan, and Brazil. This reflects both the growing confidence of organizations on the continent and the progress being made in building the infrastructure, operational capability, and competitive ecosystem required to deliver major international phygital events.
- What opportunities does phygital sport create for athletes and clubs across Africa who want to compete internationally?
Phygital sport creates direct opportunities for athletes and clubs across Africa to compete on a global stage and build international careers in a new form of competition. Through tournaments organized by WPC members, clubs can enter the official ranking system, progressing from local competitions to Phygital Rivals and ultimately to global events such as the Games of the Future.
What makes this system particularly powerful is how accessible it is at a grassroots level. Core phygital disciplines can be delivered using existing facilities such as football pitches, basketball courts, or community spaces, combined with standard gaming equipment. This means clubs and organizers do not need extensive infrastructure to host competitions, yet athletes competing locally are still part of a structured route that can lead to international qualification.
For many athletes, this creates a clear opportunity to gain international recognition and compete for significant prize money. Events such as the Games of the Future bring together the world’s best competitors and award multi-million-dollar prize pools, allowing athletes to establish themselves as elite performers within the phygital ecosystem.
It also creates space for a new type of athlete to emerge. Success in phygital sport requires a combination of physical performance, gaming strategy, teamwork, and adaptability across both stages of competition. For competitors who are strong in both areas, this format opens the door to becoming elite athletes in a discipline that is rapidly expanding worldwide.
For clubs across Africa, it also provides an opportunity to build competitive brands on the international stage. As more teams progress through the qualification system and compete at global events, they gain visibility, attract partners, and help position their local ecosystems within the growing global phygital movement.
- Beyond elite competition, are there initiatives aimed at introducing phygital sport to younger generations, such as school-based programmes or youth competitions?
Beyond elite competition, long-term growth depends on introducing phygital sport early and embedding it within school systems, academic curricula, and community programmes. The focus is not just participation but integrating phygital into structured learning environments where students engage with both the digital and physical elements of competition as part of their everyday experience.
Across the global network, members are already exploring school-based tournaments, youth competitions, and university initiatives that introduce students to phygital disciplines in a structured way. This is already underway in markets such as Spain, Brazil, Serbia, Guatemala, and Colombia. In Germany, one member has developed a portable “phygital box” concept, designed to demonstrate how easily the format can be introduced within schools and community spaces, reinforcing its accessibility.
These initiatives go beyond identifying future athletes. They help build a broader ecosystem around the sport, creating pathways for young people to become coaches, organizers, referees, content creators, and technology specialists supporting competitions.
Over time, this approach establishes a clear development pathway. Students are introduced to phygital sport through school programmes and curriculum-based activities, progress through local and community competitions, advance into national tournaments, and ultimately compete on the international stage. That early integration is what will shape the next generation of athletes and support the long-term growth of phygital sport globally.
- Looking ahead, what does phygital sport aim to achieve globally, and what role could Africa play in shaping its future?
Across the World Phygital Community network, phygital sport already operates within a global competitive ecosystem, and the next stage is expanding participation so that athletes and clubs from every region can compete consistently within the international pathway. The next step is ensuring that every member is actively delivering tournaments within their territories, strengthening national ecosystems, and expanding the global competition calendar. As more members host competitions that feed into the ranking pathway, athletes and clubs from across the world gain consistent opportunities to progress toward international events such as the Games of the Future.
Beyond competition, phygital sport also aims to address broader societal trends. By combining gaming with physical activity, it encourages a healthier balance for younger generations who are already deeply connected to digital culture. Instead of separating gaming and sport, the format brings them together, helping reduce sedentary behavior while creating a new category of hybrid athlete who must perform both physically and digitally. It also helps bridge generational gaps by creating competitions that resonate with both traditional sports audiences and digital-native communities.
Africa could play a very significant role in shaping this future. The continent’s youthful population, expanding digital connectivity, and strong sporting culture create ideal conditions for phygital competition to continue growing. As more African members organize tournaments, develop clubs, and qualify athletes for international competitions, the region will not only participate in the ecosystem but actively influence how phygital sport evolves globally.
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