The groups for the Counter-Strike 2 tournament at Esports World Cup 2026 have officially been revealed. The 32-team field has been divided into four groups of eight, with Spirit, Falcons, Vitality and NAVI among the biggest names preparing to compete in Paris. The main tournament will run from August 12 to 23 and feature a $2 million prize pool. In addition, the group draw has already sparked plenty of discussion, as fans compared the difficulty of each team’s path toward the playoffs.
EWC 2026 groups confirmed
The draw produced several potentially difficult paths. However, Groups B and C quickly attracted particular attention from the community.
Group A
- Team Spirit
- Aurora Gaming
- G2 Esports
- GamerLegion
- Luminosity
- M80
- BIG
- JiJieHao
Group B
- Team Falcons
- Legacy
- BetBoom Team
- Astralis
- MIBR
- FaZe Clan
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- K27
Group C
- Team Vitality
- MOUZ
- FUT Esports
- B8 Esports
- PARIVISION
- TYLOO
- Lynn Vision
- 100 Thieves
Group D
- NAVI
- FURIA
- 9z
- The MongolZ
- magic
- Pain Gaming
- Wildcard
- 3DMAX
With several title contenders spread across the four groups, the draw creates a number of interesting matchups. At the same time, some favorites appear to have received easier routes than others.
Falcons and Spirit receive favorable reactions
The announcement immediately sparked discussion among Counter-Strike fans. In particular, several viewers described Spirit’s Group A as relatively comfortable. Falcons were also mentioned among the teams that should be satisfied with their opponents.
Meanwhile, Group C received a very different reaction. With Vitality, MOUZ, FUT, B8 Esports and 100 Thieves all in the same section, some fans quickly labelled it one of the most dangerous groups. One reaction simply described Group C as “insane.”
Russian-speaking fans shared similar opinions. Spirit were frequently named among the biggest winners of the draw, while several comments also suggested that Falcons avoided the toughest possible opposition. NAVI’s Group D, on the other hand, generated more mixed reactions. FURIA and The MongolZ represent major threats, while magic, 9z, paiN, Wildcard and 3DMAX add further competition to the group.
Overall, many fans felt that the four groups looked relatively balanced considering the strength of the 32-team field. Still, the perceived difficulty of Groups C and D became one of the main talking points after the announcement.
EWC 2026 begins on August 12
The group reveal comes shortly after the qualification process concluded and the full tournament lineup became known. As a result, every team can now prepare for its opening opponents and potential path through the event. Esports World Cup 2026 will bring together 32 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool in Paris from August 12 to 23. With the groups now confirmed, attention will turn toward the opening matches and the first major eliminations of the tournament.
