The CS2 event at the Esports World Cup 2026 is set to officially kick off on August 12 Beijing Time! The 32 teams are divided into four groups (A-D), with each group of eight competing in a double-elimination format. The opening round will be BO1, followed by BO3 matches, and the top four from each group will advance to the Round of 16. The high unpredictability of the BO1 first round, combined with multiple top-ranked teams in every group, means the EWC group stage will be full of upset potential from day one. Let's take a look at the key highlights for each of the four groups~
Group A: Spirit leads, while the revamped Aurora and G2 battle for positions
Spirit / Aurora / G2 / GamerLegion / Luminosity / M80 / BIG / JiJieHao
On paper, Group A undoubtedly features a "one dominant team, multiple strong challengers" dynamic, spearheaded by Spirit. Having just reached the BLAST Bounty S2 finals, Spirit remains the safest bet to advance from this group. The real suspense lies with Aurora and G2 trailing behind. Aurora has just completed an international roster rebuild centered around kyxsan and Jimpphat; while their ceiling is high, the lineup still needs time to gel. G2, meanwhile, was eliminated early in their first tournament since r1nkle joined, and their form remains unstable. At the same time, BIG, who fought their way into the main event from the open qualifiers, also has the potential to play spoiler. Beyond Spirit, the remaining three advancement spots in Group A are likely to turn into a chaotic scramble.
Group B: Clash of the giants, no pushovers
Falcons / Legacy / BetBoom / Astralis / MIBR / FaZe / Ninjas in Pyjamas / K27
The standout feature of Group B is its exceptionally high overall strength. Major champions Falcons are naturally the top favorites, with a star-studded firepower lineup of NiKo, m0NESY, and kyousuke giving them an extremely high ceiling. However, FaZe has shown a clear resurgence in form recently, and Astralis has also gradually regained its competitiveness under new coach NEO. BetBoom and Legacy also possess the strength to contend for qualification spots. Aside from Falcons holding a relative advantage, there is virtually no definitive power ranking among FaZe, Astralis, Legacy, and BetBoom, making Group B likely one of the most unpredictable groups.
Group C: Vitality faces newly crowned champion MOUZ, while two CN CS teams fight for survival.
Vitality / MOUZ / FUT / B8 / PARIVISION / TYLOO / Lynn Vision / 100 Thieves
The biggest highlight of Group C is undoubtedly the stark contrast in the recent form of Vitality and MOUZ. After a dominant run of consecutive titles in the first half of the year, Vitality has noticeably cooled off recently, even getting eliminated by Liquid during the online stage of the BLAST Bounty; meanwhile, MOUZ is riding high after capturing the BLAST Bounty S2 championship in their debut with the new roster. For domestic viewers, the fact that both TYLOO and LVG have been drawn into Group C is equally noteworthy. Facing European powerhouses like Vitality, MOUZ, and FUT, it will be no easy task for the two CNCS squads to secure a top-16 spot. However, the opening BO1 matches leave the door open for potential upsets.
Group D: The Group of Death, four spots are nowhere near enough to go around.
Natus Vincere / FURIA / 9z / The MongolZ / magic / paiN / Wildcard / 3DMAX
Group D is undoubtedly the most fiercely competitive "Group of Death" at this tournament. NAVI has already claimed multiple titles this year, FURIA just finished as runners-up at the Major, and 9z has risen to the top tier of the world rankings thanks to a string of recent standout performances. Although The MongolZ has undergone a roster overhaul, they still possess formidable individual skill. Coupled with teams like paiN and 3DMAX, who have the ability to pull off BO3 upsets, even though NAVI, FURIA, 9z, and The MongolZ are the clear favorites on paper, it remains difficult to guarantee that all four will safely advance.
Overall, Group A resembles a chaotic scramble among second-tier teams with Spirit leading the pack, while Group B boasts a more balanced overall strength anchored by Cologne champion Falcons. The core suspense in Group C lies in whether Vitality can reverse their slump and how far the two CNCS teams can advance, whereas Group D is a true "group of death." Coupled with the high randomness of the opening BO1 matches, this EWC group stage is highly likely to see numerous upsets right from day one. Which powerhouses will advance smoothly, and which dark horses will break into the top 16? Let's wait and see!