IEM Cologne Major 2026 - Playoffs: Tears flow for NiKo as Falcons fly high

The IEM Cologne Major is finally here. After a long, drawn-out season of competition across the globe, 32 of the world's best CS2 squads converge at the hallowed Cathedral of Counter-Strike in Cologne, Germany, for the venue's major ascension for the first time in a decade.

Our reps from Asia may have fallen, but nevertheless, eight remain on the march into the Lanxess Arena this weekend. Here's everything you'll need to know about the playoffs for IEM Cologne 2026!

IEM Cologne Major: How to watch

The IEM Cologne Major will be streamed live across two main channels on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.

For those going spoiler-free, full VODs from each matchday will be posted to the linked channels daily at the conclusion of the production.

IEM Cologne Major - Playoffs schedule & results

All match times are in AEST unless otherwise specified.

Thursday, June 18 (Quarterfinals)

• 11:45pm: Aurora 2-0 BetBoom
• 3am: 9z 1-2 FURIA

Friday, June 19 (Quarterfinals)

• 11:45pm: G2 1-2 Spirit
• 3am: Falcons 2-1 Vitality

Saturday, June 20 (Semifinals)

• 11:45pm: Aurora 0-2 FURIA
• 3am: Falcons 2-1 Spirit

Sunday, June 21 (Grand Final)

• 1am: FURIA 0-3 Falcons (Best-of-5)

IEM Cologne Major - Stage 3 schedule & results

Round 1 (Thursday, June 11)

• PARIVISION 1-2 9z | The MongolZ 1-2 BetBoom
• MOUZ 2-0 Legacy | Vitality 2-1 FUT
• FURIA 2-0 B8 | Aurora 2-0 Monte
• Falcons 2-1 G2 | NaVi 0-2 Spirit

Round 2 (Friday, June 12)

• The MongolZ 2-0 B8 | FURIA 2-1 MOUZ
• PARIVISION 1-2 Monte | FUT 1-2 G2
• NaVi 2-0 Legacy | Falcons 0-2 BetBoom
• Vitality 1-2 9z | Aurora 1-2 Spirit

Round 3 (Saturday, June 13)

• B8 1-2 FUT | NaVi 2-1 The MongolZ
• Aurora 2-0 G2 | Falcons 2-1 Monte
• Vitality 2-1 MOUZ | PARIVISION 0-2 Legacy
• BetBoom 0-2 FURIA | Spirit 2-1 9z

Round 4 (Sunday, June 14)

• The MongolZ 2-1 Monte | MOUZ 1-2 FUT
• Aurora 2-0 9z | BetBoom 0-2 Vitality
• G2 2-0 Legacy | NaVi 1-2 Falcons

Round 5 (Monday, June 15)

• 9z 2-0 The MongolZ
• BetBoom 2-0 FUT
• NaVi 1-2 G2

IEM Cologne Major - Stage 2 schedule & results

Round 1 (Saturday, June 6)

• 8:30pm: Astralis 13-4 GamerLegion | 9z 13-9 FlyQuest
• 9:30pm: FUT 13-11 B8 | paiN 9-13 TYLOO
• 10:30pm: G2 13-8 M80 | Monte 13-8 BIG
• 11:30pm: Spirit 13-5 BetBoom | Legacy 8-13 MIBR

Round 2 (Sunday, June 7)

• 1:30am: FUT 13-9 TYLOO | Astralis 5-13 9z
• 2:30am: G2 22-19 Monte | paiN 9-13 BIG
• 3:30am: BetBoom 13-9 GamerLegion | Legacy 13-7 FlyQuest
• 4:30am: Spirit 13-1 MIBR | B8 10-13 M80

Round 3 (Sunday, June 7)

• 10:30pm: Monte 13-11 Legacy | Astralis 6-13 TYLOO
• 11:30pm: BetBoom 13-2 M80 | MIBR 8-13 BIG
• 12:30am: B8 2-1 GamerLegion | FlyQuest 0-2 paiN
• 3am: G2 1-2 FUT | Spirit 2-0 9z

Round 4 (Monday, June 8)

• 10pm: Astralis 0-2 paiN | MIBR 1-2 B8
• 12:30am: Monte 1-2 BetBoom | TYLOO 0-2 9z
• 3am: G2 2-0 BIG | M80 0-2 Legacy

Round 5 (Tuesday, June 9)

• 10pm: Monte vs. paiN
• 12:30am: Legacy vs. TYLOO
• 3am: BIG vs. B8

IEM Cologne Major - Stage 1 schedule & results

Round 1 (Tuesday, June 2)

• Lynn Vision 8-13 M80 | FlyQuest 16-14 SINNERS
• TYLOO 6-13 B8 | THUNDERdOWNUNDER 13-6 MIBR
• GamerLegion 13-10 NRG | HEROIC 10-13 Sharks
• BetBoom 13-4 Gaimin Gladiators | BIG 10-13 Liquid

Round 2 (Wednesday, June 3)

• HEROIC 11-13 Lynn Vision | B8 13-11 THUNDERdOWNUNDER
• MIBR 16-14 TYLOO | SINNERS 6-13 NRG
• GamerLegion 13-11 FlyQuest | M80 13-6 Sharks
• BetBoom 13-9 Liquid | BIG 13-1 Gaimin Gladiators

Round 3 (Wednesday, June 3)

• NRG 13-10 FlyQuest | Sharks 5-13 Lynn Vision
• Liquid 10-13 MIBR | THUNDERdOWNUNDER 7-13 BIG
• GamerLegion 0-2 BetBoom | TYLOO 2-0 SINNERS
• M80 0-2 B8 | Gaimin Gladiators 0-2 HEROIC

Round 4 (Thursday, June 4)

• THUNDERdOWNUNDER 0-2 FlyQuest | TYLOO 2-1 Sharks
• GamerLegion 2-0 BIG | MIBR 2-0 Lynn Vision
• Liquid 2-0 HEROIC | M80 2-0 NRG

Round 5 (Friday, June 5)

• 10pm: TYLOO 2-0 Lynn Vision
• 12:30am: Liquid 0-2 FlyQuest
• 3am: NRG vs. BIG

IEM Cologne Major - Asia Preview

While The MongolZ enjoy an additional two weeks to prepare for stage three of the Cologne Major, the rest of Asia's representatives will begin the tournament in the opening stage on June 2.

The scenario is simple; win three series, and their Cologne campaign continues into stage two. Lose three series, and it's a bloody long flight home for our reps.

All 16 teams have been sorted into a Swiss bracket, with the opening two rounds of competition consisting of best-of-one's — no room for error. From round three onwards, qualifying and elimination rounds will feature best-of-threes, testing the squads to their limits.

• Read more: Asia's reps get first look at IEM Cologne Major opening matches

It's new ground for Brisbane champions THUNDERdOWNUNDER, who only just recently attended their first international event in China as a squad. Sure, the individuals have plenty of overseas experience, but the major is a whole different beast altogether when you put the five together.

FlyQuest has plenty more experience on the big stage, especially for the OCE quarter of INS, Vexite, nettik, and jks. However, you wouldn't think it this year — FlyQuest has been shockingly absent from big events, and the ones they have attended, they've been, well, shocking.

Lynn Vision earned their ticket to Cologne in a controversial manner, but westmelon's men put the scene on notice with a big win at ACL 2026, and punched above their weight at CAC. Can the Chinese squad rebound after last year's Budapest exit, and find a way to channel their top 16 performance at Austin again?

TYLOO perhaps holds the greatest hope for our four squads in stage one, with wins and close maps against tier one regulars over the course of the season. They must find consistency, however, after a lacklustre finish at ACL and CAC on home soil. Far from home soil now, it's time TYLOO taps into the spirit of old.

There's more at stake than bonus sticker money and a prize pool boost. VRS points for the next season are up for grabs, but critically, the Singapore Major is up next — deep runs by our Asia reps will mean more Asia squads earn the right to play at a home CS2 major.