ESL has locked in the groups and opening round schedule for IEM Rio 2026, with 16 teams set to battle it out in Rio de Janeiro from April 13 to 19. The draw puts together some spicy first-round clashes, headlined by Spirit versus Liquid and a B8/Natus Vincere rematch, while Vitality open their latest Grand Slam campaign against RED Canids.
Group A And Group B Breakdown
The 16 teams have been divided into two groups of eight. Group A is loaded with firepower, featuring reigning heavyweights Vitality alongside Spirit, G2, Falcons, and Liquid. Group B is no less interesting, with MOUZ, Natus Vincere, and FURIA anchoring a pool that also includes some less established rosters looking to make noise on the big stage.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Vitality | FURIA |
| RED Canids | Passion UA |
| Gentle Mates | B8 |
| G2 | Natus Vincere |
| Spirit | Aurora |
| Liquid | HOTU |
| 3DMAX | Legacy |
| Falcons | MOUZ |
Opening Round Matchups
All eight opening matches are scheduled for April 13 (April 14 for New Zealand viewers). Listed times are based on ESL’s published schedule and may be updated as the event approaches.
| Match | BRT | CEST | NZST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitality vs RED Canids | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| Gentle Mates vs G2 | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| Spirit vs Liquid | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| 3DMAX vs Falcons | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| FURIA vs Passion UA | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| B8 vs Natus Vincere | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| Aurora vs HOTU | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
| Legacy vs MOUZ | 11:00 | 16:00 | 02:00 |
The standout clash on paper is Spirit against Liquid, two rosters with real title pedigree going head-to-head from the jump. Falcons and 3DMAX is another tasty one in Group A, while over in Group B, B8 and Natus Vincere get a rematch of their opening round meeting at BLAST Open Rotterdam.
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Tournament Format And Grand Slam Stakes
IEM Rio follows ESL’s familiar double-elimination, best-of-three group stage format. Group winners advance directly to the semi-finals, while second and third-place teams drop into the quarter-finals. This is the last year of this structure, with ESL already confirming a shift to eight-team playoffs from 2027 onwards.
For Vitality, the event carries extra weight. Rio is the first of three opportunities this season for them to complete their second ESL Grand Slam, and they will be looking to extend an imposing 22-map winning streak when they open against Brazilian side RED Canids. That streak makes them the clear favourites to top Group A, though Spirit, G2, and Falcons all have the talent to disrupt that run.
Broadcast Times For New Zealand Viewers
The opening round is set for April 13 local time in Rio de Janeiro. For viewers outside Brazil, the approximate broadcast start converts to 11:00 AM BRT (local), 4:00 PM CEST, 2:00 PM UTC, and 2:00 AM NZST on April 14. Kiwi fans will want to set an alarm or catch the VODs, as the schedule falls squarely in the early hours for New Zealand.
The complete bracket and updated schedule are available on the ESL website as match times are finalised closer to the event.