EWC 2026 Paris Open Qualifier Draws 64 CS2 Teams

The EWC 2026 Paris Open Qualifier puts 64 CS2 teams into 16 groups for a fast three-day LAN fight. Only four spots lead to the $2 million main event, so every match matters. Check the full group draw, format, and top teams to see who might clutch their way through.

Four Main Event Places on the Line

Main notes for this event:

The level of competition is high from the start. Teams like Liquid, HEROIC, BIG, NRG, Virtus.pro, fnatic, OG, 100 Thieves, and BC.Game enter the same bracket as regional squads and mixed rosters, where one lost pistol or failed veto can flip an entire series.

Double-Elimination Groups and BO3 Playoff Format

The opening phase uses 16 double-elimination groups of four. Two teams from each group advance, creating a 32-team single-elimination playoff bracket. Every series, from the first group match to the final qualification game, is best-of-three. A playoff participant must win three straight BO3 series to claim one of the four EWC places.

The complete group draw is:

• Group A: Inner Circle, ASTRAL, team_Kreazion, NIO
• Group B: BIG, Fluxo, DUSTY, z to forward
• Group C: DENDELE, EAC, SAW, QueenConso
• Group D: HOTU, GenOne, lafox, Galactik rebels
• Group E: INFINITE, Betclic, Giant Pandas, Aogiri
• Group F: 1win, BASEMENT BOYS, BC.Game, Citron
• Group G: HEROIC, 9INE, ABT, REM
• Group H: Gentle Mates, fnatic, FKOMAR_FPL-C, 6666
• Group I: Echo, OG, Vael, Passion CHICHA
• Group J: EYEBALLERS, Phantom, levelONE, REVENIX
• Group K: 100 Thieves, Eternal Fire, NADEGMNG, SadFamous
• Group L: Liquid, Metizport, Prestige, Dhala
• Group M: FOKUS, Sashi, Orion Wanderers, Partizan
• Group N: Acend, NRG, Spirit Esports, Vandulken
• Group O: K27, SINNERS, MANGANESE, Dark Tigre
• Group P: Virtus.pro, JiJieHao, Zeste, Sangal

The map pool includes Cache, Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Ancient, and Anubis, giving teams seven possible battlegrounds for each veto.

Liquid, BC.Game, HEROIC and Other Leading Contenders

Here are some leading teams from each groups that have the most potential to qualify for the main stage of Esports World Cup 2026:

BIG, NRG, Virtus.pro, and others round out a field where rankings matter less once the first rounds begin, and a single sharp series can flip every expectation.