IEM Cologne Major 2026 team list locked in after last-minute VRS scramble

The hunt for VRS points is officially over, and the IEM Cologne Major 2026 team list is locked in. Barring any last-minute visa issues, we now know the 32 teams that will be in attendance for the Cologne Major between June 2nd and 21st, 2026.

Invites will officially go out and be accepted by teams tomorrow, but with all matches that can affect the VRS deadline now complete, we’re already certain who will have the opportunity to play at IEM Cologne Major 2026.

All IEM Cologne Major 2026 Teams

Teams will be invited to the IEM Cologne Major 2026 via the regional VRS. 17 teams will be invited from Europe, with 10 more coming from the Americas. The remaining five slots will be invited from Asia and Oceania.

By region, these teams are as follows:

Europe

• Vitality
• NAVI
• PARIVISION
• Aurora
• Falcons
• MOUZ
• Spirit
• Astralis
• G2
• FUT
• Monte
• GamerLegion
• BetBoom
• B8
• HEROIC
• BIG
• SINNERS

Americas

• FURIA
• 9z Team
• paiN Gaming
• Legacy
• M80
• NRG
• Sharks
• Gaimin Gladiators
• MIBR
• Liquid

Asia

• The MongolZ
• TYLOO
• Lynn Vision
• THUNDER dOWNUNDER
• FlyQuest

The current VRS system has seen a host of Tier 2 events held just before the invite deadline, as teams scrambled for last-minute points to secure their place at the Major. This has led to high-drama matches, with the final place decided in the Grand Final of HLC Belgrade PRO 2026, where Budapest Major Grand Finalists FaZe Clan lost to BIG to just miss out.

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 will see multiple Major debutant teams, including FUT, SINNERS, Gaimin Gladiators, and THUNDER dOWNUNDER. FUT arrive as the highest-ranked of these teams, with an automatic spot in Stage 2 already secure.