Best CS2 Teams – Our Top 10 Rankings For 2026

The ceiling in Counter-Strike 2 has never been higher. In each competitive tournament, the best CS2 teams push the limits of what is possible in Valve’s legendary FPS, showcasing levels that the average player could only dream of.

As we head into 2026, the level of competition is at an all-time high. All of the best CS2 teams can beat anyone, and consistency and a little bit of stardust are often the deciding factors in matches. Our top 10 rankings look at all the best Counter-Strike teams around at the moment, to see which teams should be at the top of the pile throughout 2026.

10. FaZe

Since bringing back broky and adding jcobbb, it seems that FaZe have been a little bit of a mess. Nothing has really worked for the team, but they’ve still consistently remained around the rest of the best CS2 teams by occasionally pulling a big result out of the bag.

It’s difficult to really place FaZe – their inconsistency and low floor might put them lower than 10th in other people’s lists. However, their incredibly high ceiling and penchant for winning bulls*** rounds, showcased by their Grand Final run at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, show that FaZe still belong in the conversation of the best Counter-Strike teams.

9. Aurora

It took Aurora a while, but they finally managed to get over their trophy-winning hump at the tail end of 2025, with victory at PGL Masters Bucharest. It was a big step in the team’s development, after they spent so much of the year threatening to break into the elite and truly mark themselves as one of the best CS2 teams in the world.

But a trophy win doesn’t determine Aurora‘s placement entirely for 2026. Their performance against the very top Counter-Strike teams hasn’t been good enough, and their performance at elite events has been lacking. In 2026, Aurora should look to pick up a few more small trophies, while making a few deep Playoff runs at the best events in the CS2 tournament calendar.

8. G2

Since huNter- took over the IGL mantle at G2, it feels as though things have been improving slowly but surely. HeavyGod looks excellent, SunPayus is slowly starting to become the same AWPer we saw back in 2023, and MATYS could be a great supportive piece for any of the best CS2 teams. A trophy win over Vitality at BLAST Open London was the highlight for G2 in 2025, and it was an all-too-brief glimpse into this team’s ceiling.

The main concern for G2 is malbsMd, who has struggled to realize his potential since taking over the best roles from NiKo. If he can find his form throughout 2026, this G2 lineup could be truly deadly.

7. The MongolZ

The MongolZ‘s placement among the best CS2 teams has been undeniably hamstrung by the decision to bench Senzu. He still doesn’t have a permanent replacement heading into 2026, although his position was filled admirably at the end of 2025 by controlez. But despite his own good form, it’s hard to argue that The MongolZ maintain the same ceiling as before.

Previously a contender for all the major prizes, it now feels as though The MongolZ are there to make up the numbers in the Playoffs. They’ll get to the big stages, but struggle to perform once they’re there. In this, it feels as though The MongolZ have regressed to where they were in 2024. Even though The MongolZ still have too much quality to fully fall away from the best Counter-Strike teams in the world, 2026 will be another year of growing pains.

6. NAVI

Consistency is the main enemy of NAVI. The addition of makazze from their youth roster has proven to be a smart move, but all around, they haven’t been able to find event-winning consistency throughout 2025.

The ceiling is there – there is no doubt about that. On their day, NAVI are a total handful for any of the best CS2 teams in the world. It’s just that those days are too few and far between. They’re not as far away from making it click as some seem to think they are, though.

5. MOUZ

MOUZ finished 2025 with just one tournament win at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025. It was a disappointing haul, given their consistency in making deep runs throughout the year. Four second-place finishes will leave a scar on MOUZ into 2026, but they can take solace in the fact that they never let their floor drop below a Playoff standard.

It’s possible that MOUZ will make some CS2 roster changes ahead of the 2026 season. They’re so close to really pushing the elite for trophies, and these changes could be just what they need to push beyond the top five and establish themselves as the best CS2 team around.

4. Falcons

Falcons make the top four best CS2 teams, despite not having a single trophy to their name since bringing in m0NESY and kyousuke. While they’ve not quite gotten over the line yet, they’ve always put themselves in the conversation, with this iteration of the team losing two Grand Finals already.

Falcons have managed to cement a very consistent floor, rarely dropping out of the Semi-Finals. A lack of trophies is obviously frustrating for fans and embarrassing for the organization, given the resources invested to make this project a success. But looking at it objectively, Falcons are on the precipice of silverware in 2026. Even a stroke of luck could prove the difference for NiKo and friends.

3. Spirit

Spirit are in a strange place. Because they have donk, they always have a chance to win every single tournament. A bona fide game-changer who single-handedly moves the needle in Spirit‘s direction. This alone puts Spirit in the top three best CS2 teams in the world.

But all too often, donk has been let down by the pieces around him. This was perhaps most evident in the Semi-Final of the StarLadder Budapest Major, where the generational rifler couldn’t hide his visible anger at his teammates’ efforts between maps. Spirit has jumped to address this, bringing in magixx and zont1x for chopper and zweih. A great change, giving Spirit some much-needed consistency for the 2026 season. It’s a change that should propel this team to even more trophies.

2. FURIA

FURIA were the surprise package of 2025, rounding out the year with three consecutive trophy wins. They even arrived at the StarLadder Budapest Major as favorites, before falling flat in the Playoffs. Do not let this disappointment blind you, though – FURIA are easily among the best CS2 teams in the world right now, and only one other has managed to match their consistency and ceiling on a regular basis.

Ironically, the key to awakening the sleeping giant of Brazilian Counter-Strike has been the team’s European pieces – YEKINDAR and molodoy. YEKINDAR finally looks like the young player who burst onto the scene years ago with Virtus.pro, while molodoy has been a revelation on the AWP. FURIA should absolutely be looking to arrive into 2026 competing for every major trophy possible – anything less would be a drop in expectations.

1. Vitality

Vitality are the team to beat in 2026. There is no argument – they may have lost their veil of genuine invincibility, but Vitality are still the best CS2 team in the world right now. There is an argument that we’re watching the greatest team of all time at the moment, rivaling prime Astralis for the title. Only hindsight will tell the full story, but let’s enjoy them for now.

Vitality are in a unique situation heading into 2026. They have the opportunity to cement a true era, and they’ll be out to stake that claim from the off. If you want to be the best CS2 team, you have to find a way past Vitality.