Here you can find the Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2026 invited teams for both the Main Event and the Closed Qualifiers. All teams were invited based on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) invitation data as of January 5th, 2026.
In the Main Event, 16 teams will compete in 2 double elimination groups of 8 teams, where the top 3 teams from each group will make their way to playoffs, and compete for the $1,000,000 Total Winnings as well as a title in the race for the $1,000,000 ESL Grand Slam.
In the Closed qualifiers, 24 teams (16 teams in Global Qualifier, and 8 teams in Americas Qualifier) will compete in double-elimination brackets, where the winner team and runner-up team from the Global Qualifier and the winner team from the Americas Qualifier will be invited to the Main Event.
Main Event16 Teams
Passion UA
North America
VRS Invite
Furia
South America
VRS Invite
Team Vitality
Global
VRS Invite
Team Falcons
Global
VRS Invite
Team Spirit
Global
VRS Invite
Natus Vincere
Global
VRS Invite
MOUZ
Global
VRS Invite
Aurora Gaming
Global
VRS Invite
B8
Global
VRS Invite
Legacy
Global
VRS Invite
G2 Esports
Global
VRS Invite
Team Liquid
Global
VRS Invite
3DMAX
Global
VRS Invite
TBD
Global
Closed Qualifier
TBD
Global
Closed Qualifier
TBD
Americas Closed Qualifier Winner
Global Closed Qualifier16 Teams
PARIVISION
Global
VRS Invite
Heroic
Global
VRS Invite
FUT Esports
Global
VRS Invite
BC Game Esports
Global
VRS Invite
GamerLegion
Global
VRS Invite
BetBoom Team
Global
VRS Invite
Gentle Mates
Global
VRS Invite
HOTU
Global
VRS Invite
Fnatic
Global
VRS Invite
EYEBALLERS
Global
VRS Invite
K27
Global
VRS Invite
9INE Pusulabet
Global
VRS Invite
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
Americas Closed Qualifier8 Teams
Imperial Esports
Americas
VRS Invite
Fluxo
Americas
VRS Invite
BESTIA
Americas
VRS Invite
YNG Sharks
Americas
VRS Invite
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
TBD
Open
Qualifier
Main Event
- Passion UA (North America VRS Invite)
- FURIA (South America VRS Invite)
- Team Vitality (Global VRS Invite)
- Team Falcons (Global VRS Invite)
- Team Spirit (Global VRS Invite)
- Natus Vincere (Global VRS Invite)
- MOUZ (Global VRS Invite)
- Aurora Gaming (Global VRS Invite)
- B8 (Global VRS Invite)
- Legacy (Global VRS Invite)
- G2 Esports (Global VRS Invite)
- Team Liquid (Global VRS Invite)
- 3DMAX (Global VRS Invite)
Closed Qualifier
Global
- PARIVISION (Global VRS Invite)
- HEROIC (Global VRS Invite)
- FUT Esports (Global VRS Invite)
- BC Game Esports (Global VRS Invite)
- GamerLegion (Global VRS Invite)
- BetBoom Team (Global VRS Invite)
- Gentle Mates (Global VRS Invite)
- HOTU (Global VRS Invite)
- Fnatic (Global VRS Invite)
- EYEBALLERS (Global VRS Invite)
- K27 (Global VRS Invite)
- 9INE Pusulabet (Global VRS Invite)
Americas
- Imperial Esports (Americas VRS Invite)
- Fluxo (Americas VRS Invite)
- BESTIA (Americas VRS Invite)
- YNG Sharks (Americas VRS Invite)
Each team has received their invite based on their rosters stated in the VRS.
Roster submission deadlines:
- Main Event for all teams is March 30, 2026.
- Closed Qualifiers for all teams is January 18, 2026.
A team must keep a majority roster from the original VRS invite date to be able to attend the event in April.
The following teams declined their invitation:
- Main Event
Global VRS declines
FaZe Clan (VRS 7), and The MongolZ (VRS 8) have declined their invites. - Closed Qualifiers
Global
Astralis (VRS 15), Ninjas in Pyjamas (VRS 20),
and FlyQuest (VRS 32) have all declined their invites.
Americas
paiN Gaming (VRS 18), NRG (VRS 23), and M80 (VRS 29) have all declined their invites.