IEM Cologne Major 2026 field set: Vitality, NAVI among 32 teams

Organizers of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 confirmed the full 32-team field using the April 6 Valve Regional Standings, which ranked teams across Asia, the Americas and Europe. Team Vitality and Natus Vincere are included among the confirmed entrants for the tournament that begins June 2 in Cologne, Germany.

The Major uses a tiered entry system tied to the regional standings. Higher-ranked teams received direct entry to Stage 3, while lower-ranked rosters start in Stage 1 or Stage 2 and must advance through those stages to reach the final group phase. Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, Team Falcons and FURIA secured direct Stage 3 berths. Other organizations that also qualified for the final group stage include MOUZ and The MongolZ.

The confirmed field mixes established international teams and regional qualifiers. Participating teams named by organizers include GamerLegion, BIG, BetBoom, B8, HEROIC, SINNERS, M80, NRG, Sharks Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, MIBR, Team Liquid, TyLoo, Lynn Vision Gaming, THUNDERdOWNUNDER and FlyQuest, among others. Roster placement in the regional standings determines at which stage each team begins its tournament campaign.

Competition starts June 2 and runs through the stage rounds, with surviving teams advancing toward a single-elimination playoff bracket. The playoff matches are scheduled for June 18-21 at the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, which will host the semifinals and the grand final in front of a live audience.

Organizers confirmed the participant list and the schedule windows. Additional information on match formats, broadcast partners and ticket availability will be released prior to the event.