Three-Stage Road to IEM Cologne 2026 Major Is Set

Tobias Ferrante

Published: Sep 5, 2026

Valve confirmed the VRS ranking updates on April 6, locking in the 32 teams set to compete at the IEM Cologne 2026 Major. The stage assignment each team received now dictates how short or long their road to the trophy will be, with rankings splitting the field into Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 groups.

The invitations cap roughly half a year of VRS ranking progression. Stage 3 is the highest tier and gives its eight teams the fastest possible path to the title, while the 16 sides starting in Stage 1 face the toughest road – only eight survivors advance out of that opening stage into Stage 2.

Stage 3 Invites

The top eight VRS teams start at the deepest stage: Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, PARIVISION, Aurora Gaming, Team Falcons, MOUZ, FURIA, and The MongolZ.

Stage 2 Invites

Ranked 9th through 16th, these squads skip the opening bloodbath but still have work to do: Team Spirit, Astralis, G2 Esports, FUT Esports, Monte, 9z Team, paiN Gaming, and Legacy.

Stage 1 Invites

This is where most of the VRS race actually played out, and it’s the largest group heading into Cologne: GamerLegion, BIG Clan, BetBoom Team, B8, HEROIC, SINNERS Esports, M80, NRG, Sharks Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, MIBR, Team Liquid, TYLOO, Lynn Vision Gaming, THUNDERdOWNUNDER, and FlyQuest.

First-Timers and Notable Misses

Four organizations will play their first Major in Cologne: FUT Esports, SINNERS Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, and THUNDERdOWNUNDER. FUT, Gaimin Gladiators, and THUNDERdOWNUNDER only recently entered Counter-Strike, while SINNERS have grinded in the scene since 2020, mostly stuck at Tier 3 before finally breaking through – all four will earn their first in-game stickers.

Not every story ended well. FaZe Clan, grand finalists at the previous Major, missed their first Major in the organization’s history, while 3DMAX collapsed late in the VRS race despite looking like a solid Tier 1.5 outfit, and Passion UA fell short even after signing former MongolZ player Senzu.

The list of 32 is confirmed, but the source notes it isn’t necessarily final – visa issues or other last-minute incidents could still force a replacement before the Major begins.

Source: win.gg

Tobias Ferrante

Since: June 2, 2026

Tobias Ferrante has been following competitive gaming since the early days of LAN tournaments, and his passion for esports eventually collided with a deep interest in betting markets and odds analysis. He approaches esports wagering with the mindset of a strategist rather than a gambler, breaking down team form, meta shifts, and roster changes to help readers make smarter, more informed decisions. His coverage spans titles including League of Legends, CS2, Valorant, and Dota 2.

See all articles from this author