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ESL has officially confirmed the full list of teams invited to ESL Pro League Season 23, setting the stage for one of the biggest Counter-Strike events of the year. The tournament will run from March 1 to March 15, with online group stages leading into a live playoff event in Stockholm, Sweden.

A total prize pool of USD $1,000,000 is on the line, alongside valuable progress in the ESL Grand Slam race. However, the headline news comes from the top of the Valve Regional Standings, with both Team Vitality and Team Falcons turning down their invitations.

How ESL Pro League Season 23 Will Work

All 24 teams were invited based on the Valve Regional Standings as of January 5, 2026. The competition will begin with two online Swiss-style stages featuring 16 teams each.

Eight teams have been invited directly into Stage 2, while the remaining 16 teams will start their campaign in Stage 1. From there, the top eight teams in Stage 2 will advance to the playoffs, which will be played on LAN in front of a live audience in Stockholm.

The structure marks a continued shift towards online group play, with LAN competition reserved exclusively for the final playoff bracket this season.

Why Vitality And Falcons Declined Their Invitations

Reigning ESL Pro League Season 22 champions Team Vitality chose not to defend their title, while Team Falcons also declined their invite.

Community discussion and reporting suggest the decision is largely strategic. ESL Pro League Season 23 features online stages, which offer fewer Valve Regional Standings points compared to full LAN events. Several players and analysts have pointed out that attending upcoming PGL tournaments, including Cluj-Napoca, is more advantageous in terms of VRS value.

Burnout has also been mentioned as a factor, with teams facing an increasingly packed 2026 calendar. With the playoffs being the only LAN portion of EPL Season 23, some top organisations appear to be prioritising fully offline events ahead of the next Major cycle.

NIP And Passion UA Step In

With Vitality and Falcons declining, Ninjas in Pyjamas and Passion UA were next in line based on VRS rankings and have now been invited to the tournament.

As a result of these changes, Aurora and B8 will begin their runs in Stage 2 instead of Stage 1, giving them a shorter path to the playoffs.

FUT Replaces Lynn Vision After ESL Ruling

Another notable update sees FUT Esports replacing Lynn Vision following a disciplinary ruling.

Lynn Vision withdrew from ESL Pro League Season 22 after the deadline and has been banned from attending their next eligible Tier 1 VRS event. Because of this, ESL converted the Wildcard invite into a Global VRS invite, allowing FUT to take their place in Season 23.

Complete Team List For ESL Pro League Season 23

Stage 2 Teams

  • FURIA
  • MOUZ
  • FaZe
  • The MongolZ
  • Natus Vincere
  • Spirit
  • Aurora
  • B8

Stage 1 Teams

  • G2
  • 3DMAX
  • paiN
  • Astralis
  • Liquid
  • Passion UA
  • Legacy
  • PARIVISION
  • M80
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas
  • HEROIC
  • FUT Esports
  • NRG
  • Monte
  • Gaimin Gladiators
  • SemperFi

The list features a strong mix of elite contenders and rising teams aiming to climb the VRS ladder, including Oceania’s SemperFi and several North American hopefuls.

Key Dates And Roster Rules

Teams must submit their rosters by February 15, 2026. Tournament seeding will follow shortly after, with Stage 1 seeding taking place on February 16 and Stage 2 seeding on March 5.

To remain eligible, teams are required to keep a majority of their roster from the original VRS invite date, ensuring lineup stability heading into the event.

A Different Pro League, With Big Stakes

While the absence of Vitality and Falcons has sparked debate, ESL Pro League Season 23 still shapes up as a critical stop in the 2026 Counter-Strike calendar. With a million dollars on offer, Grand Slam implications, and a live playoff atmosphere in Stockholm, the tournament remains a major proving ground for both established giants and hungry challengers.