The Esports World Cup in Paris will feature 32 of the world's best Counter-Strike 2 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool. The teams qualified through a 64-team LAN qualifier and will battle in the Group Stage for 16 playoff spots. The tournament brings together elite rosters with genuine title ambitions.
Team Falcons arrive as reigning IEM Cologne Major champions, strengthened by in-game leader Finn 'Karrigan' Andersen's tactical direction. Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač has established himself as a top-tier rifler after breaking his Major curse on his 17th attempt with a 1.43 rating in the Cologne final. Falcons represent a serious threat despite being third among favorites.
Team Vitality dominated the early CS2 season with five consecutive victories between February and May but has since faltered at major tournaments. Recent poor showings at BLAST Bounty Season 2, IEM Cologne, and IEM Atlanta suggest the juggernaut faces real challenges. FaZe Clan also enters with legitimate aspirations after their strong Budapest Major performance, despite missing the Cologne qualifier.
