PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Power Rankings: MOUZ face tough task to defend title

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 is here, and it’s tough to believe we’re already three events into the year. The Counter-Strike calendar is relentless, and teams are constantly battling to stay on top by attending as many events as possible.

This time around, PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 features almost all of the best CS2 teams in the world, a major improvement from its 2025 iteration. Who is expected to take home the lion’s share of the $1.25 million prize pool? Our PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Power Rankings have got you covered.

Vitality are back on top

After winning IEM Krakow 2026, normal service has been resumed for Vitality. They’re on top of the Counter-Strike world, looking to break all the records possible in 2026. Winning PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 is hardly a necessity for Vitality to stake their competitive claim for the year, but the level of competition in Romania suggests it would still be a great way to declare their dominance over everyone else once again.

It’s impossible to rank the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 teams and not place Vitality at the top of the list. They are the clear favorites to win this event, for obvious reasons. But when you’re sitting on the throne, you’re the target for everyone else to take down. Can they continue to adapt, even when the stakes aren’t quite as high for Vitality?

MOUZ defend their title against tougher opposition

Just under a year ago, MOUZ won their first event with Brollan as IGL. PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025. It remains their only trophy with Brollan as IGL to date. At that event 12 months ago, many of the top teams chose to skip in favor of other priorities. This meant they sort of had a free run at the trophy, almost blemishing what was, in hindsight, a fine event win.

That means they arrive at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 as defending champions. But this time, the best teams are in attendance, making MOUZ‘s defense a much more daunting task. They continue to flounder in the latter stages of events, but if they’re going to get their season back on track, then retaining their Cluj-Napoca title would be the perfect place to start.

Potential PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 underdogs

Looking at the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 teams, the favorites are obvious. But it’s the underdogs who may be able to really make this event compelling. Even the worst teams are capable of causing serious damage, making every match a must-watch.

Our first underdog is Astralis. 11th in these PGL Cluj-Napoca Power Rankings, but that speaks more to the quality heading to Romania than a slight on Astralis. If anything, their start to life as an international team has been filled with positives, with ryu and phzy both offering cause for optimism going forward. They’ve brought a firepower upgrade to Astralis, and the vibes look strong within the team. Cluj-Napoca is probably too soon to really challenge the big boys, but a deep Playoffs run amid such a strong field would be further proof of a project heading in the right direction.

I have to also raise FUT, 9th in our Power Rankings. The former NAVI Junior roster are showing exactly why they had outgrown their previous status as a youth team, with dem0n and dziugss proving to be a revelation. FUT are a genuine nightmare matchup for anyone at their moment due to their raw firepower. Sure, their brand of CS is a little raw at this point, but that’s to be expected with such a young lineup. One thing is for sure: if FUT continue to cause problems for the teams around them, you’ll see more and more people paying attention to them. Do not miss FUT’s matches.