ESL unveils IEM Rio 2026 workforce invitations

ESL has unveiled the complete listing of invited groups competing in the principle occasion, international closed qualifiers, and Americas closed qualifiers for IEM Rio 2026.

The closed qualifiers for the Tier 1 occasion happen on January 18th, and have a number of notable names from the South American and European scenes. Imperial Esports, Fluxo, BESTIA, and YNG Sharks will compete within the Americas qualifiers, with 4 groups from open qualifiers becoming a member of them.

Notably, paiN Gaming, NRG, and M80 declined invites to the Americas qualifiers. Elsewhere, Astralis, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and FlyQuest opted towards competing within the international qualifiers.

Fnatic, Mild Mates, and BC.Recreation are among the many groups participating within the international closed qualifiers. Much like the Americas qualifiers, 4 groups from the open qualifiers will earn a spot within the closed qualifiers.

Two groups from the worldwide qualifiers and one from the Americas will safe a spot on the predominant occasion, happening from April thirteenth to nineteenth.

IEM Rio 2026 marks the primary time in two years {that a} Tier 1 Counter-Strike occasion has taken place in Brazil. The newest version of IEM Rio was held in 2022, with NAVI taking residence the title.

With a number of of the world’s finest groups making the journey to Brazil, IEM Rio 2026 is ready to be one other hotly contested Tier 1 occasion. Beneath are the entire groups taking part throughout the qualifiers and the principle occasion:

All IEM Rio 2026 matches can be streamed reside on ESL’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. Followers desirous to attend the occasion in-person can head to Ticketmaster to buy the tickets.