Esports World Cup Counter Strike 2 Qualifiers Unveiled

Esports World Cup Counter Strike 2 Qualifiers Unveiled

Kaustavmani Choudhury

7 Feb, 2024, 04:55

|

Last updated: 10 Apr, 2025, 10:30

The Esports World Cup organizers have unveiled further information regarding the qualifying pathway for the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 tournament. Set to take place in Saudi Arabia, succeeding the Gamers8 event, the tournament promises to be a pinnacle in the esports calendar.

The event will be managed by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a government-backed non-profit organization spearheaded by Ralf Reichert. Having departed from his role as Chairman of the ESL FACEIT Group, Reichert brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Global Qualification Overview

Teams hailing from six different regions - Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Saudi Arabia - will have the opportunity to secure a place in the prestigious event.

The schedule for the open and closed qualifiers has been set, with registration links provided for each region. Teams aspiring to compete in the Esports World Cup can secure their chance by registering for the appropriate qualifiers on the specified dates.

Open Qualifiers

Scheduled two weeks after the Major, each region will host a single open qualifier. Two coveted spots in the closed qualifier will be up for grabs in each region.

April 16-17

April 17-18

Closed Qualifiers

Following the open qualifiers, two successful teams will advance to the closed qualifiers, where they will join two invited teams in a rigorous double-elimination, best-of-three bracket. The outcome of this bracket will determine the fortunate team to represent their region in Riyadh during the summer.

April 18-19: North America, South America, Asia, Saudi Arabia

April 19-20: Europe, Oceania

Last month, Team Spirit secured the inaugural spot at the Esports World Cup following their triumph at IEM Katowice.

Prize Pool and Participation

While direct invitations will be extended, the exact number of participating teams and prize pool allocation remain undisclosed. The previous year's Gamers8 event boasted a $1 million prize pool and welcomed 16 elite teams.

Saudi Vision 2030 and Concerns

The Esports World Cup aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, a governmental initiative aimed at broadening the kingdom's economic base. Saudi Arabia's increasing involvement in esports, exemplified by the acquisition of ESL FACEIT Group by the government-backed Savvy Gaming Group, has sparked apprehension due to the nation's history of human rights issues.

Featured Image Source: Esports World Cup

Read More:

A Closer look at Saudi Arabia's Esports World Cup Club Program

S1mple loses in his CS2 debut with Team Falcons

Latest news

KSI Becomes First 'Original' in New Football Game 'GOALS'

KSI Becomes First 'Original' in New Football Game 'GOALS'

‘GOALS’ is a new online football game title designed by its namesake studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. Framed as a free-to-play, competitive, online title, ‘GOALS’ seeks to enter the competitive sports-esport cross-section with the tagline as the “next evolution of football gaming experiences”.
41m
Foo Zen-Wen

G2 Esports Brings Fantasy Webcomic Red Aura to Global Audiences on WEBTOON

G2 Esports, one of the world's most recognisable names in competitive gaming, is stepping further into the world of original entertainment with the English-language global launch of its fantasy-action webcomic, Red Aura, on WEBTOON. The series goes live on Saturday, June 6, under the platform's prestigious WEBTOON Originals label.
5h
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Esports or Stock Market? Valve's New CS2 Sticker System Makes Top 100 Cologne 2026 Stickers Cost $19,447!

Buying one of each of the 100 most expensive CS2 Cologne 2026 stickers now costs $19,447.37. Valve removed capsules, introduced a token-based Major Shop with dynamic pricing, and tied revenue to rankings. The community is calling it a paywall that turned collecting into speculation. This article examines how the new system concentrates wealth at the top, hides pricing algorithms in a black box, and prices casual fans out of Major sticker culture.
14h
André Guaraldo

IEM Cologne Major 2026 Viewer’s Guide: Schedule, Where to Watch, and More

The 32 best CS2 teams in the world will convene in Germany for the IEM Cologne Major 2026 from June 2-21. Here's the tournament's schedule and livestream details.
1 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

EWC 2026 Paris Tickets on Sale: Venue, Prices, and More

Tickets for the Esports World Cup 2026 are now live. Following the venue change, all previous ticket holders have been refunded, and new ticketing information is available.
29 May
Adarsh J. Kumar

IEM Cologne Major 2026: The Only Stage 1 Pick'Ems Guide You Need

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 is almost here, and with it comes one of the most exciting traditions in all of CS2: the Pick'Ems Challenge. Stage 1 kicks off on June 2, and it's time to lock in your predictions before the server goes live. We've done the homework so you don't have to: here's our IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 Pick'Ems Guide!
25 May
Thales Costa

IEM Cologne Major 2026: Format, Teams, What to Expect, and More

After 10 long years, the prestigious Major returns to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. Starting June 2, the 32 teams will clash at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 for a shot at lifting the Major trophy at the legendary LANXESS Arena. The competition spans three weeks and four stages. The first three stages are 16-team Swiss rounds, followed by an 8-team single-Elimination bracket.
25 May
Ganesh Jadhav

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match