IEM Cologne Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched edition in the history of the tournament. According to Esports Charts, the quarterfinal clash between FURIA and 9z reached a peak of 1,256,792 concurrent viewers, surpassing the previous record set during IEM Cologne 2022.
FURIA vs 9z Breaks Historic Record
The all-South American quarterfinal proved to be one of the biggest surprises of the event, not only because of the teams involved but also due to the massive audience it attracted. As the series progressed, viewership continued to rise, eventually reaching 1.25 million viewers and establishing a new benchmark for the prestigious ESL tournament.
Esports Charts confirmed the achievement on social media, describing it as a new peak in IEM Cologne history. The previous record of 1,249,426 viewers, set four years earlier, was officially surpassed during the match.
NEW PEAK: #IEM Cologne Major 2026 has just set a new peak viewership record for IEM Cologne!
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FURIA and NAVI Dominated Audience Rankings
According to Esports Charts statistics, FURIA vs 9z currently stands as the most-watched match of IEM Cologne Major 2026 with 1,257,380 peak viewers. The top five most popular matches of the tournament by peak viewership are:
- FURIA vs 9z — 1,257,380 viewers
- NAVI vs Falcons — 1,212,645 viewers
- Aurora vs BetBoom — 996,732 viewers
- G2 vs Falcons — 991,877 viewers
- NAVI vs Team Spirit — 977,558 viewers
Notably, NAVI featured in two of the five most-viewed matches, while Falcons appeared twice as well, highlighting the popularity of both teams during the Major.
Community Celebrates Another Milestone
The new record quickly became one of the most discussed topics within the Counter-Strike community. Fans praised the atmosphere created by South American supporters and noted that the numbers underline the continued growth of CS2 esports.
Many users on social media pointed out that reaching more than 1.25 million viewers without a grand final demonstrates just how much interest the Major generated throughout the playoff stage.
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Grand Final Could Push the Numbers Even Higher
With the tournament still ongoing at the time the record was broken, there remains a possibility that the grand final will set an even higher peak viewership figure. Regardless of what happens next, IEM Cologne Major 2026 has already secured its place in history as the most-watched edition of one of Counter-Strike’s most iconic events.
