The full lineup for the IEM Cologne Major 2026 is now locked in. Valve has published the official VRS ranking that determines every invite and stage placement for the upcoming German Major, ending weeks of uncertainty for teams sitting near the qualification cutoff.
The ranking was finalised on 6 April following the conclusion of several local LANs, including Urban Riga Open Season 4 and HLC Belgrade PRO, which gave borderline teams their last shot at accumulating enough points to secure a spot.
How The Stages Break Down
The IEM Cologne Major uses a three-stage format, with higher-ranked teams entering at later stages. Stage 3 teams skip the opening rounds entirely, while Stage 1 squads face the longest road to the playoffs. Here is the full breakdown, including each team’s VRS points.
Stage 3
| Team | Region | VRS Points |
|---|---|---|
| Team Vitality | EU | 2063 |
| Natus Vincere | EU | 1903 |
| PARIVISION | EU | 1798 |
| FURIA | AM | 1781 |
| Aurora | EU | 1777 |
| Falcons | EU | 1769 |
| MOUZ | EU | 1769 |
| The MongolZ | AS | 1747 |
Stage 2
| Team | Region | VRS Points |
|---|---|---|
| Team Spirit | EU | 1721 |
| Astralis | EU | 1689 |
| G2 Esports | EU | 1664 |
| FUT Esports | EU | 1619 |
| 9z Team | AM | 1603 |
| paiN Gaming | AM | 1590 |
| Monte | EU | 1539 |
| Legacy | AM | 1530 |
Stage 1
| Team | Region | VRS Points |
|---|---|---|
| TYLOO | AS | 1441 |
| GamerLegion | EU | 1529 |
| BIG | EU | 1526 |
| BetBoom Team | EU | 1525 |
| B8 | EU | 1518 |
| HEROIC | EU | 1502 |
| SINNERS | EU | 1480 |
| M80 | AM | 1456 |
| NRG | AM | 1412 |
| Sharks | AM | 1408 |
| Gaimin Gladiators | AM | 1376 |
| MIBR | AM | 1369 |
| Team Liquid | AM | 1361 |
| Lynn Vision | AS | 1334 |
| THUNDER dOWNUNDER | AS | 1301 |
| FlyQuest | AS | 1282 |
For the first time in 10 years, 32 teams have been assembled for a Counter-Strike Major in the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. 🇩🇪
YOUR #IEM COLOGNE MAJOR 2026 INVITED TEAMS ARE CONFIRMED 👇 pic.twitter.com/A2c451Av6T
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 7, 2026
Local LANs Decided The Final Spots
The two weeks leading up to the 6 April deadline were chaotic. Teams like BIG, HEROIC, SINNERS, and Gaimin Gladiators were far from guaranteed a place and entered local LANs across multiple regions as a last-ditch effort to collect enough VRS points.
All four managed to earn their invites. SINNERS, in particular, confirmed their spot after results at HLC Belgrade PRO, while BIG secured enough points to stay above the cutoff despite the tight margins involved.
Read More: IEM Rio 2026 Groups and Opening Matchups Revealed Ahead of April Showdown
Notable Teams That Missed Out
Not everyone made it through. FaZe are the biggest name absent from the participant list, having narrowly missed qualification after falling short at HLC Belgrade. Alliance, BESTIA, Passion UA, K27, Gentle Mates, and SemperFi were also among the teams that came close but ultimately failed to accumulate enough points before the deadline.
For FaZe especially, this is a significant blow. The organisation has been a fixture at CS Majors for years, and their absence will be one of the headline talking points heading into Cologne.
VRS Ranking Also Shapes Other Events
Beyond the Major itself, the finalised VRS ranking will also determine invitations for other upcoming tournaments, including LORGAR Rankings Season 1 (US$50,000 prize pool) and Stake Ranked Episode 2 (US$100,000). Teams that secured strong placements on the ladder benefit from more than just a Cologne invite.
With all 32 teams now confirmed and stage placements settled, the focus shifts entirely to preparation. The biggest question heading into Cologne is whether any Stage 1 team can fight through the full gauntlet and challenge the top seeds starting from Stage 3.