Champions Down: Team Falcons Eliminated From The International 2026

After two successive defeats in the first round of the Playoffs, Team Falcons was eliminated and lost the opportunity to become a Dota 2 back-to-back TI Champion organization after impressive performances from Nigma Galaxy and Team Liquid.

Let's take a quick look at both matchups and point out some less-than-optimal decisions that might have influenced the Aegis Defenders' demise and opened the way for a new TI Champion.

Nigma Galaxy: Overconfidence Has Its Limits

Team Falcons' first matchup of the day was against Nigma Galaxy, which has been performing amazingly and giving fans the impression that this run is fueled by SumaiL's burning passion.

The Falcons won the first map with a very unusual Centaur Warrunner pick in the mid lane, and that might have been their undoing, considering that Nigma managed to win the second map against the same strategy.

On the third map, things got out of control, and lorenof made the most of his Sniper pick to humble Team Falcons and push them over the cliff into the Lower Bracket. One mistake was all it took.

Team Liquid: Similar Mistake, Similar Results

In the first round of the Lower Bracket, Team Falcons also started by winning the first map against Team Liquid. Unfortunately for them, as Austin "Cap" Walsh mentioned on his podcast, Liquid made a breakthrough right before The International.

After winning the first map, the Falcons insisted on the Centaur pick, which we warned wasn't that good in our recap, and lost the second map in a relatively quick 34-minute game.

Finally, when it came to the deciding map, Team Liquid managed to get the better draft, and that resulted in stronger team fights and the victory that sent Team Falcons back to the airport.

Maybe It's Time For Roster Changes?

Team Falcons has had one of the most stable rosters over the last couple of years, and that stability helped them win The International 2025. Now that they failed to achieve a back-to-back championship, maybe it's time for a roster shuffle.

There are two major concerns when it comes to feedback from the community. On one side, Oliver "skiter" Lepko feels like a sacrificial carry who cannot shoulder the burden of carrying his team when it matters most.

At the same time, Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf feels like the team's actual carry, and the current meta did not favor him carrying from the offlane, which was reflected in the team's performance and reinforced by his comments about the organization of EWC 2026.

Closing Thoughts

The International 2025 Champions fell on the field of battle, and the way is now open for a new contender to lift the Aegis of Champions. A lot of two- and three-time hopefuls are still in pursuit of another championship.

If you want to stay informed about The International 2026, the possible Falcons roster shuffle, and the eventual new Champion, remember to check our coverage in the news section of the Strafe website!

Featured Image Source: Twitter (@FalconsEsport)

READ MORE: The International 2026: Group Stage Meta Recap