ESL has unveiled the individuals for IEM Kraków 2026 following the discharge of January’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS).
All the high 24 groups from the worldwide standings have accepted an invite to the primary IEM occasion of the 2026 Counter-Strike 2 season.
BC.Sport and GamerLegion are amongst 16 groups starting the match in Stage 1. The likes of Workforce Liquid, Aurora Gaming, and G2 Esports additionally characteristic within the opening stage of the match, going down from January twenty eighth to February eighth, 2026.
IEM Katowice 2025 champion Workforce Vitality begins its Kraków marketing campaign in Stage 2, aiming so as to add one other Tier 1 trophy to its huge assortment of victories achieved all through 2025. After robust performances on the StarLadder Budapest Main, FaZe Clan and The MongolZ have additionally earned a Stage 2 spot.
The inaugural version of IEM Kraków is a part of a multi-year partnership between the Polish metropolis and ESL FACEIT Group. The opening occasion of the 2026 ESL Professional Tour sees groups competing for a share of a $1m (~£740,980) prize pool.
IEM Kraków 2026 Workforce Listing
The total record of groups competing in every stage of IEM Kraków 2026 is as follows:
Stage 1
- Aurora Gaming
- B8
- Legacy
- G2 Esports
- Workforce Liquid
- 3DMAX
- Astralis
- Parivision
- HEROIC
- paiN Gaming
- FUT ESports
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Ardour UA
- BC.Sport Esports
- NRG
- GamerLegion
Stage 2
- FURIA
- Workforce Vitality
- Workforce Falcons
- Workforce Spirit
- NAVI
- MOUZ
- FaZe Clan
- The MongolZ
The 16 Stage 1 groups will compete in a double-elimination bracket, with eight advancing to Stage 2. In Stage 2, two double-elimination GSL teams will decide which groups advance to the playoffs.
