Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) returns to Rio de Janeiro for the fourth time. Boasting the world’s most passionate fans and the best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) teams, IEM Rio 2026 promises to be an unforgettable event.
Join us in anticipation with our complete tournament guide that features the competing teams, format, schedule, streaming links, and betting predictions.
Disclaimer: All the IEM Rio 2026 outright winner odds quoted and VRS Global rankings mentioned are accurate as of April 7, and are subject to change.
IEM Rio 2026 Schedule & Format
IEM Rio 2026 takes place on LAN in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and runs from April 13 to 19. IT also features two distinct stages of competition.
The action began with a Group Stage (April 13 to 15) comprising two GSL-style double-elimination groups of eight teams each. All matches in this stage of the competition are best-of-three.
The final six teams are live at the Farmasi Arena. The format is a single-elimination bracket, where one mistake can send you packing. Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are best-of-three, and the Grand Final is best-of-five.
Find the match times for your region via our CS2 betting section.
Prize Pool Distribution
IEM Rio 2026 boasts a total prize pool of $1 million. There’s both a Club Share ($700,000) and a Player Share ($300,000), awarded to organizations and players, respectively. You’ll find the complete prize pool distribution outlined below.
| Place | Player Share | Club Share | Total Prize |
| 1st | $125,000 | $170,000 | $295,000 |
| 2nd | $50,000 | $120,000 | $170,000 |
| 3rd | $30,000 | $95,000 | $125,000 |
| 4th | $20,000 | $75,000 | $95,000 |
| 5th–6th | $12,500 | $55,000 | $67,500 ($135,000) |
| 7th–8th | $7,000 | $35,000 | $42,000 ($84,000) |
| 9th–12th | $5,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 ($80,000) |
| 13th–16th | $4,000 | — | $4,000 ($16,000) |
| Total | $300,000 | $700,000 | $1,000,000 |
Team Vitality could win another $1 million thanks to their standing in the ESL Grand Slam Season 6. If a team beats them in the Grand Final, denying the Grand Slam, that team will get a cool $100,000 extra.
How To Watch IEM Rio 2026
Can’t come to Brazil? No problem! We’ve got the next-best experience to watch all the action right here at Thunderpick.
Navigate directly to our IEM Rio 2026 betting page and click on the camera icon once a match is live. You can also head to the “Live” tab of our CS2 betting section. A stream will appear, alongside our bet slip, so you can place in-play wagers while watching the action unfold.
Alternatively, you can stream the event on ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Teams At IEM Rio 2026
Based on VRS Global rankings as of Jan. 6, 2026, 13 teams were invited directly to Rio this year. Another two teams (Gentle Mates and HOTU) made it past the grueling Global Qualifier, and the Brazilian squad RED Canids advanced from the Americas qualifier.
Check out all 16 teams competing at IEM Rio 2026 below, divided into their respective groups.
Group A teams:
- Team Vitality
- G2 Esports
- Team Spirit
- Team Falcons
- RED Canids
- 3DMAX
- Team Liquid
- Gentle Mates
Group B teams:
Our IEM Rio 2026 Predictions
We did our research when creating these predictions, including current player form, matchup histories, performances on LAN in 2026 thus far, and the latest IEM Rio 2026 outright winner odds.
When discussing the odds, we mention both the Decimal and American formats, along with implied probabilities, which indicate a team’s chances of success based on aforementioned odds.
Important: These predictions reflect the perceived strength of teams based on historical trends and the latest available odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
Team Vitality (#1)
Team Vitality is an unstoppable force and the clear favorite in any tournament they enter. In 2026 thus far, apEX’s men have lifted the IEM Kraków 2026, PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, and BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 trophies.
The CS2 esports scene is living in the Team Vitality era, with the best player in the world, ZywOo, in tip-top form. Considering that entry fragger flameZ is posting career-high numbers, the squad is nearly unbeatable on the server.
Team Vitality skipped PGL Bucharest 2026. At BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, they won the trophy without losing a single map. The most frightening part of the performance was that Estonian rifler, ropz, came to life like never before, becoming the first-ever Team Vitality player to beat ZywOo for the MVP medal.
Odds of 1.72 (-138.89) translate to a 58.14% chance for Team Vitality to lift their fourth trophy of the year, making them the clear favorites. If they do win IEM Rio 2026, they’ll also claim back-to-back ESL Grand Slams and the iconic gold bars, which represent an extra $1 million in prize money.
Team Vitality roster:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Robin “ropz” Kool
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
- Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Coach)
FURIA (#2)
Led by the iconic FalleN, also known as the “Godfather of Brazilian CS,” FURIA will play in front of an incredibly passionate home crowd. If there’s anyone who can feed off the crowd and help his teammates feed off that energy, it’s FalleN. That’s why FURIA is our #2 pick, ahead of NAVI, Team Falcons, and Team Spirit.
The home crowd advantage might be just what the IEM Kraków 2026 runners-up need to wake up from a recent slump. With young AWPer molodoy in fantastic form, FURIA has the potential to slay the giant that is Vitality.
There’s a 12.50% chance of FURIA lifting the IEM Rio 2026 trophy, as indicated by outright winner odds of 8.00 (+700). Odds of 4.50 (+350) translate to a 22.22% chance that they’ll make it to the Grand Final.
FURIA roster:
- Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
- Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
- Yuri “yuurih” Boian
- Danil “molodoy” Golubenko
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo (IGL)
- Sidnei “sidde” Macedo (Coach)
NAVI (#3)
NAVI is hitting peak form at the perfect time for their trip to Rio. With makazze putting up world-class performances, and the headshot machine b1t doing what he does best, while Aleksib makes solid calls, the sky’s the limit.
The squad recently won ESL Pro League Season 23 (Vitality wasn’t in attendance) and reached the BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 final, where they lost 3–0 to the best team in the world.
NAVI is ranked #2 on the VRS Global leaderboard and #2 on HLTV. Odds of 7.50 (+650) translate to a 13.33% chance that Aleksib’s men will lift the trophy in Rio de Janeiro. There’s a 28.57% chance we’ll see NAVI in the Grand Final, as indicated by odds of 3.50 (+250).
NAVI roster:
- Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi
- Mihai “iM” Ivan
- Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
- Drin “makazze” Shaqiri
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (IGL)
- Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi (Coach)
Team Spirit (#4)
Enough time has passed for Team Spirit to stabilize with their updated roster featuring the return of zont1x and magixx. Many still consider donk the best rifler in the world, so Team Spirit has the firepower to decimate most teams in their path.
Team Spirit is ranked #9 on HLTV and #10 on the VRS Global leaderboard. Their drop in ranking comes as no surprise, as the squad hasn’t reached the podium since claiming 3rd at IEM Kraków 2026.
That all said, you should consider Team Spirit in 4th place as our bold prediction for this tournament. While donk is always clicking heads with the utmost precision, the rest of the team needs to find their stride if they want to make a deep run in Rio.
Odds of 8.00 (+700) imply there’s a 12.50% chance Team Spirit will take home the gold, and odds of 4.50 (+350) translate to a 22.22% chance they’ll make a Grand Final appearance.
Team Spirit roster:
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia
- Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
- Boris “magixx” Vorobyev (IGL)
- Sergey “hally” Shavayev (Coach)
Honorable mentions go to Team Falcons, MOUZ, and Aurora Gaming, who may surprise us all and make it all the way to the Grand Final.
IEM Rio 2026 Is Almost Here
With Team Vitality chasing history and the ESL Grand Slam, and challengers like NAVI, Team Spirit, and FURIA ready to step up, IEM Rio 2026 is set to deliver high-stakes CS2 from start to finish.
You can join us in the hype by live-streaming the event and putting your esports knowledge to the test in our CS2 betting section. Good luck!
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