PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Quarter-Finals Preview: Are upsets on the cards?

The PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Quarter-Finals are here, with eight teams heading to Romania’s BT Arena to fight for glory in the biggest non-Major PGL CS2 event to date. We’re analyzing all four matches, to see who is in with the best shot of reaching the next stage of the event.

Falcons vs. PARIVISION

Stylistically, PARIVISION are an absolute nightmare for Falcons, despite the latter having the name value to be the favorites in this series. PARIVISION are a team that likes to drag every map, every series, the full distance, and make you fight for every single win. They’ve played the maximum five series so far at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, with all of them going to a third map decider. There have been three overtimes in there for good measure.

Comparatively, Falcons are a team that will fold as the going gets tough. Their fragile mentality has consistently been their Achilles’ heel. If PARIVISION can make this series as scrappy as possible, it’s easy to see it getting out of hand. The key here is kyousuke. Falcons’ electric rifler has enjoyed an incredible 1.29 rating so far this year, but throughout 2025, he suffered from significant dips in Playoffs. If he can avoid his usual stage slump, then Falcons should be able to get over the line. If not, then this one’s going to get messy.

Our prediction: Falcons 1:2 PARIVISION

MOUZ vs. NAVI

There has been plenty of criticism in MOUZ‘s direction of late, much of it warranted. They have underachieved in terms of trophies, that much is clear, but you have to admire their overall consistency. MOUZ face a NAVI lineup that has had mixed results but is still capable of causing problems for any of the best CS2 teams on their day.

The two have already faced each other once at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, with MOUZ enjoying a 2:0 win in the Group Stage. Since then, NAVI have looked much-improved, but MOUZ have that quality of very rarely losing to teams that are worse on paper. And NAVI are certainly worse on paper. Although I expect NAVI to show a better face than their last outing, I don’t think it’ll be enough to overcome the gulf in class between the two teams, even with the Romanian home crowd cheering on hometown hero iM.

Our prediction: MOUZ 2:1 NAVI

Vitality vs. Aurora

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 has been business as usual for Vitality. Three series, three wins, although two of those were dragged to a third map decider, making it closer than it first appears. They face Aurora in their PGL Cluj-Napoca Quarter-Final, a team that have been rather unconvincing of late.

I expect this one to be the most straightforward of any matchup here. Anything other than a clean 2:0 in favor of Vitality would be quite surprising, but if Aurora really want to be taken seriously, then this would be some moment to put down a marker of their current level. We’ll see.

Our prediction: Vitality 2:0 Aurora

FURIA vs. The MongolZ

We all know that FURIA come into this PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Quarter-Final against The MongolZ as favorites. Despite this, I can’t shake the feeling that we could be in for the biggest surprise of the event so far.

FURIA have dropped maps to both FUT and PARIVISION at the event, losing to Falcons, too. They’re far from immortal, despite their recent run to the Final at IEM Krakow. But The MongolZ are finally putting it together with cobrazera, who looks more comfortable with every passing game. I’m going to say FURIA eventually take this one, but let it be known that it is far from a confident prediction.

Our prediction: FURIA 2:1 The MongolZ