IEM Rio 2026: Format, Best Teams, Underdogs and Full Guide
IEM Rio 2026 is set to begin on April 13 as one of the biggest CS2 events of the season returns to Brazil. This will be the fourth time Rio hosts the tournament, with the Farmasi Arena once again welcoming the world’s top teams.
The event will run from April 13 to April 19, 2026. The group stage will take place in closed studios without a live audience to maintain focus on gameplay.
The playoffs, however, will be held at the Farmasi Arena from April 17 to April 19, with tickets already sold out.
A total of 16 teams will compete for a $1,000,000 prize pool. The event also contributes to the ESL Grand Slam race, which carries another $1,000,000 prize.
IEM Rio 2026 Format & Structure
The IEM (Intel Extreme Masters) Rio 2026 format features two stages.
Group Stage
The 16 teams are split into two groups of eight teams each.
Each group follows a double-elimination format, with all matches played as Best of 3.
- Top 3 teams from each group qualify
- Group winners advance directly to the semifinals
- Second and third-placed teams move to the quarterfinals
Playoffs
The playoffs use a single-elimination format, where one loss means elimination.
- Quarterfinals and semifinals: Best of 3
- Grand Final: Best of 5
This will also be the last year of this format, as ESL will switch to an eight-team playoff structure from 2027.
IEM Rio 2026 Teams & Groups
Teams qualified through the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) as of January 5, 2026, along with additional slots from global and regional qualifiers.
Group A (Group of Death)
- Team Vitality
- G2 Esports
- Team Spirit
- Team Falcons
- 3DMAX
- Team Liquid
- Gentle Mates
- RED Canids
Group A is being seen as the tougher group. Teams like Vitality, Spirit and Falcons make progression extremely competitive.
Group B
- Natus Vincere (NAVI)
- MOUZ
- FURIA (Local team)
- Legacy (Local team)
- Passion UA
- B8
- Aurora Gaming
- HOTU
Group B features strong European sides along with Brazilian teams FURIA and Legacy, who will have home support. The local support might lean towards teams from this group.
IEM Rio 2026 Favourites & Contenders
Team Vitality enter IEM Rio 2026 as the clear favourites. They arrive in strong form after winning IEM Krakow 2026 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026.
Natus Vincere are also strong contenders after winning ESL Pro League Season 23. Team Falcons and Team Spirit remain dangerous sides capable of deep runs.
G2 Esports could be a surprise package of the tournament after recent roster changes.
Dark horses to watch at IEM Rio 2026
FURIA clearly stand out as the main dark horse of the tournament. Playing at home in Brazil gives them a major boost from the crowd.
Aurora Gaming are another team to watch after reaching the EPL S23 final. MOUZ also remain a strong threat in Best of 3 matches and can beat any team on their day.
Where to watch IEM Rio 2026
Fans can watch IEM Rio 2026 live on ESL’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
The entire event will be streamed globally. Meanwhile, you can make your predictions here.