en
Europe MENA League Stage 2
Overview
The Europe MENA League Stage 2 is a premier regional tournament in the Rainbow Six Siege (R6) competitive ecosystem, serving as a key stage within the annual Europe MENA League (EML) circuit for teams based in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Organized by Ubisoft and BLAST, it is classified as an A-Tier event on Liquipedia and forms part of the BLAST R6 Esports season structure.
The league provides Global Standing Points (SI points) toward Six Invitational qualification and direct spots at international Majors. Stage 2 specifically acts as a primary qualifier for the BLAST R6 Major Osaka (also referred to as the Japan or November Major). The 2026 edition features a $140,000 USD prize pool, 10 teams competing in an online format, and emphasizes high-level 5v5 PC play on the current Rainbow Six Siege title (referenced as the 2025 version in some listings).
It holds significant prestige as the top closed regional league for the EMEA region, bridging traditional European powerhouses with rising MENA organizations and feeding talent into global events like the Esports World Cup and Six Invitational.
History
The Europe MENA League evolved from previously separate regional competitions. The Europe League (organized by BLAST and Ubisoft, succeeding earlier FACEIT-hosted events) and the MENA League (previously involving EGA MENA and FACEIT) operated independently in earlier years, with distinct stages awarding Major qualifications and prize money around $50,000–$190,000 per stage.
Around the 2025 season, the structures merged into the unified Europe MENA League to better integrate the regions, create a stronger EMEA pathway, and streamline Global Points accumulation. The combined league features multiple components per year: a Kickoff event, Stage 1, Stage 2, and often Regional Finals. Partner/affiliate teams and a Challenger Series (open pathway with promotion/relegation elements based on standings) support the closed 10-team main league.
Key format evolutions include consistent round-robin group stages followed by double-elimination playoffs, with adjustments for Major qualification spots (typically top 4 from Stage Finals). Prize pools stabilized around $140,000 USD per main stage in 2025–2026. The 2025 season saw strong performances from teams like Team Falcons and G2 Esports, culminating in Regional Finals in Malta. The 2026 season introduced a Kickoff tournament and continued the dual-stage structure, with Stage 2 running post-Esports World Cup.
Format
For the 2026 Stage 2 edition (and consistent with recent stages), the tournament uses a two-phase structure for 10 teams:
-
Group Stage (Round Robin): All teams play each other once in best-of-1 (Bo1) matches. Matches are scheduled across approximately 9 playdays (e.g., September 7–30, 2026, at 18:00–22:00 CEST). The top 6 teams advance to the Stage Finals; seeds 5 and 6 enter the lower bracket.
-
Stage Finals (Playoffs): Double-elimination bracket with best-of-3 (Bo3) matches. Played over several days (e.g., October 5–13/14, 2026). The top 4 finishers qualify for the BLAST R6 Major Osaka 2026.
Qualification into the league comes via partner status, prior standings, or the Challenger Series (Swiss + double-elim open pathway promoting top teams). Maps follow the standard competitive pool (e.g., Bank, Border, Chalet, Clubhouse, Consulate, Fortress, Kafe Dostoyevsky, Lair, Nighthaven Labs). SI points are awarded by placement (e.g., 1st: 420 points, scaling down to lower placements). The entire event is online.
Prize distribution for 2026 Stage 2 ($140,000 USD total): 1st $25,000, 2nd $22,000, 3rd $19,000, 4th $16,000, 5th $13,000, 6th $11,000, 7th $10,000, 8th–10th $8,000 each (with corresponding SI points).
Notable Editions
The 2025 Stage 2 stood out as Team Falcons dominated the group stage (strong win-loss record) and defeated Team Secret 2–1 in the Grand Final (maps including Clubhouse, Nighthaven Labs, and Border), securing Major qualification and regional supremacy. This cemented Falcons as a top EMEA force.
The 2026 Kickoff (March–April) saw G2 Esports claim the title over Virtus.pro (2–0), highlighting early-season form with standout individual performances. Stage 1 2026 (June 8–July 14) featured Team Falcons as champions ($25,000), followed by Virtus.pro, Geekay Esports, and Fnatic in the top 4 (qualifying for Esports World Cup), with G2 Esports in 5th. Peak viewership reached approximately 85,614 concurrent viewers.
The ongoing/upcoming 2026 Stage 2 (starting September 7, 2026) is notable for post-World Cup stakes, with Osaka Major spots on the line and a mix of established European squads and MENA partners like Geekay Esports and Twisted Minds. The Challenger Series has successfully promoted new talent into the closed league.
Past Champions
- 2025 Stage 2: Team Falcons (defeated Team Secret 2–1 in Grand Final). Notable for Falcons’ group dominance and Major qualification; prize share around prior regional scales, with Regional Finals later won by Falcons over G2.
- 2026 Kickoff: G2 Esports (defeated Virtus.pro 2–0; $12,000). Highlighted strong individual ratings from players like Shaiiko.
- 2026 Stage 1: Team Falcons (1st, $25,000; qualified to Esports World Cup), Virtus.pro (2nd, $22,000), Geekay Esports (3rd, $19,000), Fnatic (4th, $16,000). G2 Esports finished 5th ($13,000).
- 2026 Stage 2: Ongoing/upcoming as of late August 2026 (starts September 7; winners TBD). Top 4 will qualify for Osaka Major.
Earlier separate leagues saw repeated success for Team BDS and Virtus.pro in Europe League stages, and Team Falcons/Geekay Esports in MENA League stages (e.g., 2023–2024).
Viewership & Impact
Viewership for EML events is solid for a regional A-Tier league. The 2026 Stage 1 recorded a peak of 85,614 concurrent viewers, 2,034,958 hours watched, average of ~24,969 viewers across ~82 hours of airtime. Broadcasts air on Twitch (primary official channel Rainbow6 with millions of followers, plus regional like Rainbow6fr), YouTube (official VODs and live), Kick, SteamTV, and others, often with multi-language coverage (English, French, Russian, etc.).
Culturally, the EML is vital for EMEA R6 development, integrating MENA talent (Saudi organizations like Geekay and Twisted Minds as partners) with European giants (G2, Falcons, Secret, Virtus.pro, Fnatic). It contributes heavily to Global Standings for Six Invitational invites, sustains professional rosters, and elevates the region’s global competitiveness post-merger. Official coverage and partner content amplify its reach within the Ubisoft/BLAST ecosystem.