IEM Kraków 2026 playoffs preview and predictions

The primary area occasion of the 2026 Counter-Strike 2 season has reached its ultimate stage, with six groups vying for an opportunity to win the IEM Kraków 2026 trophy. 

Happening within the Polish metropolis’s TAURON Enviornment, the remaining six groups will compete for a share of its $1m (~£738,070) prize pool and all-important Valve Regional Standings (VRS) factors as consideration begins turning in direction of June’s IEM Cologne Main. 

With a few of Counter-Strike’s largest names nonetheless in competition to raise the trophy, the Kraków playoffs are set to be one other showcase of world-class motion. Esports Insider breaks down the Tier 1 occasion.

After breezing by way of Group B with out conceding a single map, Workforce Vitality has an opportunity to cement its place amongst Counter-Strike’s all-time biggest rosters. All through 2025, the crew made the playoffs in each single event it competed in, showcasing unimaginable ranges of consistency on the highest degree. 

This consistency has additionally positioned Workforce Vitality in a superb place to defend the ESL Grand Slam title it received final 12 months. To this point, it has received two ESL Professional Tour occasions, needing two extra to take dwelling the $1m prize. 

Matheiu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut continues to show phenomenal AWPing ability, with lightning-fast reactions and superior positioning, steadily making an affect in attacking and defensive eventualities. If ZywOo retains discovering type, Workforce Vitality will stay a drive to be reckoned with because it appears to be like to reclaim the VRS prime spot.

The signing of Caner ‘soulfly’ Kesici in late 2025 has resulted in Aurora Gaming making its first playoff look because it received PGL Masters Bucharest in November 2025. The all-Turkish line-up efficiently navigated its well past GamerLegion and paiN Gaming within the Play-Ins to earn a spot in Group B. 

Aurora Gaming opened its Group Stage marketing campaign with a robust exhibiting towards Workforce Falcons, scoring a 2-1 victory earlier than sweeping apart MOUZ to lock in a spot within the higher bracket ultimate towards Workforce Vitality. Regardless of struggling a 2-0 defeat to the French organisation, Aurora Gaming has demonstrated its functionality towards two powerhouse rosters that had been anticipated to ship it packing.

The street to the Kraków trophy doesn’t get simpler for Aurora Gaming, because it faces off towards FURIA within the opening quarter-final match. All through the event, the crew has displayed wonderful defensive technique, which can show essential in shutting down a FURIA facet that continues to prime the VRS. 

FURIA heads into the quarter-finals after working the decrease bracket gauntlet following a shock defeat to FUT Esports in its first Group Stage match. Kaike ‘KSCERATO’ Cerato’s rifling abilities stored the crew in competition on a number of events, the place it appeared near crumbling.

Aurora Gaming’s riflers have additionally shone on the server, establishing a tantalising battle towards two groups which have but to point out their true potential. 

Since its victory at BLAST Open London 2025, G2 Esports has continued grinding its manner in direction of the highest of the worldwide Counter-Strike scene. The crew got here agonisingly near besting Workforce Spirit in its Group A match, with small cracks in a stable defence making the distinction. 

On the opposite facet of the stage, MOUZ stays one of many world’s most constant groups because it appears to be like to raise its first trophy since February 2025. The pairing of Milan ‘Xertion’ Veeger and Ádám ‘torzsi Torzsás has hit its stride on the proper time, with each gamers proving pivotal in an exhilarating contest towards Workforce Falcons to safe the ultimate playoff place. 

With each groups demonstrating some unimaginable composure towards top-tier opposition, this specific quarter-final is prone to require all three maps.

With FURIA theoretically advancing from the quarter-finals, the consequence units up a tantalising conflict towards a Workforce Spirit facet that has proven some weaknesses regardless of Danil ‘donk’ Kryskhovets persevering with to excel with the rifle in hand. 

Workforce Spirit can not afford one other shut contest towards FURIA, a crew no stranger to finishing comebacks and clutching when it issues most. If each groups fireplace on all cylinders, count on an explosive contest that goes all the way down to the wire. 

MOUZ overcoming G2 Esports leads to the worldwide roster going through off towards long-time rivals Workforce Vitality within the playoffs of one other Tier 1 event. The 2 final competed towards one another at IEM Chengdu 2025, with Workforce Vitality rising victorious because of a Robin ‘ropz’ Kool masterclass. 

Each groups proceed to show why they’re a number of the easiest on the planet. Taking Workforce Vitality’s superior win price under consideration, MOUZ has all of it to do if it desires to safe a spot within the Grand Closing. 

Winner: Workforce Vitality 2-0

With Workforce Vitality and Workforce Spirit advancing from the semi-finals, a Grand Closing between the 2 sides is on the playing cards within the inaugural IEM Kraków 2026 Grand Closing. 

Workforce Spirit’s current roster change has injected a breath of recent air into the roster after a lapse in type in direction of the top of 2025. In the meantime, Workforce Vitality stays the crew to beat with constant showings at any occasion it participates in. 

A best-of-five between two formidable squads has all of the components required for the Grand Closing to be a hotly contested battle. Whereas donk continues to shine, the remainder of Workforce Spirit should step as much as tackle a Workforce Vitality facet which not often reveals any weaknesses when competing on the large stage. 

IEM Kraków 2026 winner: Workforce Vitality 3-1