CDL 2026 drops Control for Overload – but who are the winners and losers?

It’s out with the old and in with the new for the Call of Duty League, as, in a bid to finally find a stable third game mode, Control has been replaced by Overload.

It’s a change that is drastically needed, with the CDL never having been able to replace Uplink when the jetpacks were grounded with Modern Warfare 2019. But six years later, fans can rejoice – but which teams can?

Stormy weather for the new Falcons​

Riyadh Falcons have made a statement in 2025, closing off its transition from Vegas Legion in style with a pair of marquee signings. Picking up out-of-fortune Pred already proved to be a success at the end of the Black Ops 6 campaign, with the Aussie gunner posting some massive individual performances.

While Falcons’ AR department faltered, Pred spread his wings on control, showcasing why that poor OpTic form was nothing but a blip in a great early career. Specifically, he topped the charts for Control K/D in Major 4, while his duo Exnid put in a league-high for damage per game. Together, the sub duo took advantage of other teams’ reliance on Hardpoint and Search and Destroy to notch up some massive performances on Control, ending the season as one of the best on the game mode, just nowhere near the top in the others.

Pair that with the new arrival Cellium, who was the K/D leader in Control all year round (min. five games played), the third game mode appeared to be an easy win for the new-look star-studded Falcons roster. Taking this weapon out of their arsenal will certainly be a dampener to the start of their season. Knowing the slaying power of both Cellium and Pred, the Falcons won’t struggle for wins, but the assurance of Control could have quickly catapulted them towards the top of the rankings from the get-go.

Strength to strength for Toronto in an uncharted Overload mode

As one of the earliest teams to lock in their rosters for the Black Ops 6 season, Toronto KOI looks primed for another strong year. Widely considered to be the best of the rest, retaining star gunner JoeDecieves and adding one of the sharpest shooters and new Spanish poster boy ReeaL, the roster can only get better.

Typically, KOI stayed consistent as the third-best team for Control, but this new mode arguably suits their roster the best. It promises to be fast-paced, yet tactical, and fewer combinations than CleanX and JoeD fit that category to a tee. From early game tests, the mode centers around choke points that will be a playground for ReeaL, while clever movements behind enemy lines will only add to the coordination.

With a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Insight, in a make-or-break year for the Brit, this anomaly mode might be the chance for him to lead KOI to the top of the CDL. It’s early days, but the Toronto lads are one of the most exciting teams on paper, and will thrive in the lawful chaos Overload offers.

Thieves: Perfect timing for their new mini Midas

When it comes to overall teams, rather than individuals, LA Thieves were by far the best control team throughout the entirety of Black Ops 6. But they remained the biggest question mark going into the 2026 season with the otherworldly sub duo of HyDra and aBeZy.

Historically, while he might be one of the best players on th

e planet, Control has been aBeZy’s weak point. Slipping into the red zone for

league-wide standards towards the end of the Black Ops 6 season. As one side of the tiny terrors, who have split for the first time in seven years, the mini midas will now be looking to touch gold on his own terms, and conquering the new game mode will be the perfect chance to stand out.

Despite being the best in the business last year, this change actually looks to be great timing for the Thieves, who will be looking to slip on their velvet glove and steal away wins in this unknown territory.

Overload doesn’t have big boots to fill, but if it can be the catalyst for the same quality games as Infinite Warfare’s Uplink or Black Ops 2’s Capture The Flag, then it could see the product catapult into new realms of popularity.

And with new pilots…