paiN have kept their Esports World Cup 2026 campaign alive after defeating Wildcard 2-1 in the Group D lower bracket. The Brazilian squad recovered from a 12-16 loss on Inferno by dominating Nuke 13-3 and closing Mirage 13-7. Rafael “saffee” Costa led the way with a 1.28 rating, while João “snow” Vinicius finished close behind at 1.27. The victory sends paiN into the deciding match, while Wildcard are eliminated from the tournament.
paiN bounce back after difficult start
paiN entered the lower bracket after a heavy defeat in their opening match. The Brazilians faced 9z on Cache and managed only three rounds in a 3-13 loss. That result left paiN with no room for another mistake. Against Wildcard, they again found themselves under pressure after losing the opening map, but this time they responded with two convincing performances.
Wildcard had also lost their first match of the tournament. The North American side faced FURIA on Inferno and fell 10-13, sending them into an elimination match against paiN. The 2-1 defeat now ends Wildcard’s run, while paiN remain in contention for a place in the playoffs.
Wildcard take Inferno before paiN turn the series around
Wildcard started the series on their own pick of Inferno and immediately showed they were ready to fight for survival. The two teams were level at 6-6 after the first half and remained tied at 12-12 after regulation. Wildcard then took control in overtime. They won all four rounds to close the map 16-12 and move within one map of eliminating paiN.
However, the Brazilians produced an immediate response on Nuke. paiN built a 9-3 advantage in the first half before winning four straight rounds after the break. The 13-3 victory quickly tied the series and forced Mirage. The decider was much more controlled by paiN. They secured a 7-5 halftime lead before taking six of the next eight rounds. A 13-7 victory completed the comeback and kept their EWC campaign alive.
saffee leads paiN with a 1.28 rating
Rafael “saffee” Costa was the standout player of the series. The Brazilian AWPer finished the three maps with 51 kills and 37 deaths. He also recorded 80.2 ADR, 73.4% KAST and a 1.28 rating. João “snow” Vinicius was almost equally influential. He posted 48 kills, 80.9 ADR and a 1.27 rating. Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt added another solid performance with a 1.08 rating.
Wildcard struggled to match paiN’s individual output. Jadan “HexT” Postma was their only player to finish with a rating above 1.00, ending the series at 1.02.
paiN make a major jump in the VRS
The victory also provides paiN with a significant boost in the projected Valve Regional Standings. The Brazilians gained 43 points, increasing their total from 1,458 to 1,501. As a result, paiN are projected to climb eight positions from No. 36 to No. 28.
Wildcard moved in the opposite direction. They lost ten points, dropping from 1,359 to 1,349. Their projected position also falls two places, from No. 47 to No. 49. The result therefore keeps paiN alive at EWC while also providing an important boost to their position in the global ranking.
Teams react after the match
paiN celebrated the comeback on social media and highlighted that only one more victory separates them from the next stage: 13-7 on Mirage vs. Wildcard, 2-1 in the series and we’re still alive in the EWC. Just +1 win to secure the next phase!
Wildcard kept their reaction brief after elimination, posting a disappointed emoji alongside a graphic confirming the 1-2 defeat. The loss brings their Esports World Cup campaign to an end after defeats to FURIA and paiN.
What’s next?
paiN remain alive at the Esports World Cup 2026 and will now advance to the Group D deciding match. One more victory would secure their place in the playoffs after a difficult start to the tournament. For Wildcard, the event is over. The North American side leave EWC 2026 without a series victory after losses to FURIA and paiN, despite coming within one map of extending their run in the elimination match.
