The roster of participants for the open Counter-Strike qualifiers for the 2026 Esports World Cup has been finalized following the close of registration. A total of 64 teams will compete for four spots in the main event, which features a $2 million prize pool.
Among the qualifiers are Liquid, BC.Game, HEROIC, 100 Thieves, NRG, and DENDELE. All 28 teams that met the VRS ranking requirements received direct invitations to the qualifiers.
The qualifier will begin with 16 groups of four teams each. The competition will follow a double-elimination format, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs. All matches will be best-of-three series.
The roster of participants also includes teams with Ukrainian players. Specifically, Inner Circle, BC.Game (featuring s1mple), BASEMENT BOYS, fnatic, 6666, and Eternal Fire will compete in the qualifiers.
The qualifying matches will take place August 7–9 in Paris. Based on the results, four teams will secure spots in the main stage of the 2026 Esports World Cup for Counter-Strike.
The qualifying round will begin on August 7 and will consist of 16 groups of four teams each:
- Group A: Inner Circle, ASTRAL, Kreazion, NIO
- Group B: BIG, Fluxo, DUSTY, z to forward
- Group C: DENDELE, EAC, SAW, QueenConso
- Group D: HOTU, GenOne, lafox, Galactik Rebels
- Group E: INFINITE, Betclic, Giant Pandas, Aogiri
- Group F: 1win, BASEMENT BOYS, BC.Game, Citron
- Group G: HEROIC, 9INE, ABT, REM
- Group H: Gentle Mates, fnatic, FKOMAR_FPL-C, 6666
- Group I: Echo, OG, Vael, Passion CHICHA
- Group J: EYEBALLERS, Phantom, levelONE, REVENIX
- Group K: 100 Thieves, Eternal Fire, NADEGMNG, SadFamous
- Group L: Liquid, Metizport, Prestige, Dhala
- Group M: FOKUS, Sashi, Orion Wanderers, Partizan
- Group N: Acend, NRG, Spirit Esports, Vandulken
- Group O: K27, SINNERS, MANGANESE, Dark Tigre
- Group P: Virtus.pro, JiJieHao, Zeste, Sangal
