The organizers of XSE Pro League 2026 have officially revealed the first eight invited teams for one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 tournaments of the summer. The $1,000,000 LAN event will take place in Guangzhou, China, from July 1–12. It is already creating huge discussion because of its lineup, VRS importance, and unusual timing during the player break. FaZe and Legacy headline the first wave of invites. Legacy arrive after their sensational victory at CS Asia Championships 2026. That result pushed the Brazilian squad into the top six of the global VRS rankings. Meanwhile, FaZe will use the tournament as a chance to reset their season and debut the refreshed roster on a major Asian LAN stage.
FaZe Already Seen as One of the Favorites
The FaZe announcement immediately exploded across social media. Chinese organizers described the team as the “Galaxy Battleship.” Soon after, fans began calling XSE Pro League the “real Major” of the summer. Community reactions quickly appeared on X:
- “Anything to get this team winning an event.”
- “This is the REAL CS2 major.”
- “Easy for FaZe.”
At the same time, some fans discussed a possible FaZe vs 100 Thieves matchup. Others asked Valve to update the map pool before the tournament so teams would be forced to play Cache.
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The Tournament Could Seriously Affect VRS
XSE Pro League is already viewed as one of the most important events of the summer for the Valve Regional Standings. However, its timing creates a major problem for many organizations. Teams must now decide between giving players a proper offseason break or protecting their VRS positions. Because of this, even the first invites created heavy discussion inside the Counter-Strike scene. Many fans believe the event could reshape the rankings before the second half of the season and the next Major qualification cycle begins.
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Current Confirmed Teams for XSE Pro League 2026
- Legacy
- BetBoom
- 9z
- Alliance
- EYEBALLERS
- Ninjas in Pyjama
- Nemesis
- FaZe
Eight more teams will still qualify through the Global VRS rankings. Afterward, all 16 participants will begin the tournament in a Swiss Stage format. The top teams will then advance into an eight-team playoff bracket.
