Punk Drops Out of Capcom Cup, Replaced By Tokido

In an unexpected development, Capcom has announced the withdrawal of another qualified player from the upcoming Capcom Cup 2026.

The player in question is Punk, who will no longer be competing in the tournament due to personal reasons.

Capcom Confirms Replacement

In an official statement released on social media, Capcom confirmed that Punk’s spot at Capcom Cup will be taken by Japanese fighting game legend Tokido.

Punk had qualified for Capcom Cup through the Global Leaderboard. Following his withdrawal, Tokido, who was next in the standings, was selected as his replacement in accordance with tournament rules.

Shortly after Capcom’s announcement, Punk released a statement of his own confirming the situation and offering additional context. He explained that he had run into passport issues that would be impossible to resolve before the start of Capcom Cup in March. He expressed his disappointment at not being able to make the finals and promised that he would go even harder next time. 

More Japanese Representation

Losing a player of Punk’s caliber is undoubtedly disappointing for the competition. However, for long-time fans of Tokido, this development represents a remarkable opportunity.

Tokido is already competing at the highest level, currently taking part in the Street Fighter League World Championship against the winners of SFL in the United States and Europe. Now, he also has the chance to compete for the most prestigious individual title in Street Fighter.

With Tokido’s addition, Japan now fields 14 players at Capcom Cup 2026, making it by far the most represented region.

Interestingly, this move restores numerical balance following the earlier withdrawal of Kakeru, who was replaced by AngryBird. Despite those changes, Japan’s presence at the event remains dominant.

With storylines stacking up and a new format making its debut, Capcom Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting editions in recent memory.

Whether Tokido can turn this unexpected opportunity into a historic run is now one of the tournament’s most intriguing questions.