FUT Esports Confirmed as Replacement for Legacy at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

FUT Esports Confirmed as Replacement for Legacy at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

PGL — the Romanian esports organiser behind some of Counter-Strike’s most prestigious events — has confirmed that FUT Esports will take the place of Legacy at the upcoming PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament. The official announcement came via PGL’s social channels and was quickly supported by multiple esports outlets today. 

The tournament, set to begin on February 14, 2026, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, carries a $1.25 million prize pool and features a 16-team field competing through a Swiss-format group stage leading into traditional playoffs. 

Why Legacy Withdrew

Legacy’s removal from the lineup was directly tied to roster issues following recent internal changes within the Brazilian squad. In the closing weeks, Legacy made the high-profile decision to bench their long-time in-game leader Lucas “lux” Meneghini, a move covered by multiple sources. 

Because this change occurred after the official roster submission deadline for PGL Cluj-Napoca, Legacy was unable to register a legal active roster in time for the tournament. Reports confirmed that coach Bruno “RiVAS” Rivetti would have had to stand in as a player to make the roster valid — a stopgap nobody expected Legacy would run with — effectively leaving the organisation without a properly accepted competitive lineup. 

In simpler terms: Legacy was denied participation not due to event organizers removing them arbitrarily, but because they no longer met the official roster requirements when the change took place after the deadline.

FUT Esports: The New Entrants

Stepping into Legacy’s slot is FUT Esports, a team that has been rising through the competitive ranks and building momentum in 2025 and early 2026. Although FUT’s results have been mixed — they were knocked out early at the recent IEM Kraków 2026 play-in stage and suffered defeats in other qualifiers — they still impressed enough overall in the VRS (Valve Regional Standings) to be on PGL’s radar. 

FUT’s roster features a mix of European talent and has shown flashes of potential, including competitive matches against some of the higher-ranked teams in recent regional events. Their inclusion in Cluj-Napoca represents a significant step for the organisation and gives them exposure on one of Counter-Strike’s largest stages — with the potential to boost their ranking and qualify position before the next major tournament deadlines.

What This Means for Cluj-Napoca

PGL Cluj-Napoca has long been a marquee stop on the Counter-Strike calendar, drawing elite global competition and deep strategic gameplay. As organisers have structured the event around Valve’s VRS ranking system, invitations and replacements are handled strictly according to rules designed to maintain competitive integrity. 

The removal of Legacy and inclusion of FUT underscores how volatile roster changes can disrupt team plans — and how performance in global standings and ranking systems like VRS can open doors even when results have been inconsistent. With the event featuring top teams from across Europe and beyond, FUT’s appearance could be one of the storylines of the tournament’s early Swiss rounds. 

The Broader Competitive Context

The Cluj-Napoca event also takes place amid a busy early season in Counter-Strike 2. Many teams have been juggling commitments to other LAN qualifiers and big international brackets. Some notable organisations, including Team Spirit, declined to participate entirely as they manage conflicting schedules — although their absence is unrelated to the Legacy situation. 

Meanwhile, other major teams secured invitations months ago based on their VRS rankings, highlighting how stability and consistent performance in the latter half of 2025 materially influence invitation status for early-year LANs.