The Counter-Strike world will look strange without FaZe Clan on stage at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. For the first time since MLG Columbus 2016, the organization will not compete at a Valve-sponsored Major, snapping a 16-Major streak that spanned nearly a decade.
The Belgrade Collapse
FaZe's fate was sealed on April 5, 2026, when they lost 1-2 to BIG in the grand final of HLC Belgrade PRO. The series scoreline told the story of a team that ran out of gas:
- Dust2: BIG 13-11 FaZe
- Overpass: FaZe 13-11 BIG
- Anubis: FaZe 3-13 BIG
Notably, FaZe IGL Finn "karrigan" Andersen posted a monster 2.32 rating on Dust2 but could not carry his team through the decider. Two weeks later, karrigan would depart the organization altogether, joining Team Falcons.
Fallout from a Disastrous VRS Cycle
The Belgrade loss ended a last-ditch qualification campaign. FaZe had even forfeited their opening two matches at PGL Bucharest to attend the event, gambling everything on a Belgrade title run. When BIG lifted the trophy, so ended an era.
SINNERS Take the Slot
The knock-on effect: SINNERS secured their first-ever Major berth, becoming one of the final European sides invited to Cologne. The Czech-Slovak organization has never before qualified for a Valve Major.
What This Means for FaZe
The team that lifted the trophy at PGL Antwerp 2022 and reached the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 grand final now sits at home for the summer's biggest tournament. Post-Belgrade, FaZe rebuilt with a new IGL search underway. The wider community has described their absence as "the clearest example of how unforgiving the VRS system can be" — margins in the invite race were often just 1-2 points.
