Esports tournament organiser ESL has unveiled details on the qualifiers for three of its ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike 2 events taking place in 2026.
In addition to regional qualifiers, global qualifiers will make their debut to reduce travel fatigue experienced by teams attending international events.
ESL Pro Tour Global Qualifier Format
The first ESL Pro Tour event to feature global qualifiers is IEM Brazil. In addition to invites based on January’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS), the open qualifier will feature a single-elimination bracket taking place from January 16th to 17th. The top four teams advance to the closed qualifier taking place from January 21st to 23rd.
Two teams from the closed qualifier secure a place at IEM Brazil 2026. While the details on the event venue haven’t been revealed, the tournament takes place from April 13th to 19th.
IEM Brazil 2026 will also feature an Americas qualifier played on South American FACEIT servers. Running alongside the global qualifier, one team from the closed qualifier will earn a place at the main event.
IEM Atlanta 2026 also includes a global qualifier alongside IEM China 2026. Atlanta’s qualifier occurs from February 7th to 8th, while the China qualifier takes place from August 24th to 25th.
Atlanta and China events also include a regional qualifier, allowing teams from the Americas and Asia to compete on regional servers for a chance to qualify for an international event.
Further Integrity Measures
With an increase in online competitions, ESL has also unveiled new integrity measures to ensure a level playing field during matches.
Starting in 2026, players will require two cameras and FACEIT verification before teams can check in prior to a qualifier taking place.
“We share the community’s belief that the integrity of our events must remain our highest priority, and these measures are a crucial step in maintaining that standard,” said ESL in a blog post.
ESL remains one of the leading tournament organisers in Counter-Strike 2 esports. In June, it will host the IEM Cologne 2026 Major, the first Valve-sanctioned tournament of the year.
