IEM Krakow 2026 Playoffs Bracket Set: Spirit and Vitality Skip to Semi-Finals as G2, MOUZ, FURIA, and Aurora Battle in Quarter-Finals

Keywords: IEM Krakow 2026 playoffs, CS2 tournament, IEM Krakow bracket, Spirit Vitality semifinals, G2 vs MOUZ, FURIA vs Aurora, CS2 esports news

The IEM Krakow 2026 playoff bracket has officially been finalized, setting the stage for a packed weekend inside the Tauron Arena. After an intense group stage, Spirit and Vitality secured direct semi-final spots, while FURIA, Aurora, G2, and MOUZ will fight through the quarter-finals to stay alive.

The playoff matches will take place from February 6–8, culminating in the grand final on Sunday.

IEM Krakow 2026 Playoff Bracket

Quarter-final matchups

FURIA vs Aurora

G2 vs MOUZ

Semi-final matchups

Spirit vs winner of FURIA/Aurora

Vitality vs winner of G2/MOUZ

Playoff schedule (CET)

Feb 6 — FURIA vs Aurora

Feb 6 — G2 vs MOUZ

Feb 7 — Spirit semi-final

Feb 7 — Vitality semi-final

Feb 8 — 3rd place match

Feb 8 — Grand Final

These matches will determine the champion of one of the most prestigious CS2 tournaments of the year.

How Spirit Reached the Semi-Finals

Team Spirit enter the playoffs as one of the biggest title favorites.
They locked their playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over NAVI, extending their dominant head-to-head record and proving their continued consistency on LAN.

Spirit then secured a direct semi-final bye by defeating G2 in the group final. The series highlighted the form of sh1ro, who delivered a standout performance to close out the match and secure top seeding.

Spirit now have extra preparation time and will face the winner of FURIA vs Aurora.

Vitality Reach Semi-Finals Behind Prime ZywOo

Vitality topped their group and earned the second semi-final bye after a 2-0 win over Aurora.

The series was headlined by a legendary Ancient map that went to quadruple overtime (25-22) before Vitality closed the series on Overpass. The performance reinforced the idea that ZywOo is in elite form heading into the playoffs.

Vitality will meet the winner of G2 vs MOUZ in the semi-final.

MOUZ Claim the Final Playoff Spot

MOUZ secured the last Tauron Arena berth by eliminating Falcons 2-0 in a tense series:

Inferno: 16-14

Dust2: 19-17

The victory featured:

A crucial revival from xertioN

Key impact from Spinx

Strong late-round calling that helped MOUZ close tight maps

Their reward is a blockbuster quarter-final against G2.

Aurora and FURIA Set Up Explosive Quarter-Final Clash

Aurora arrive after strong wins over Falcons and MOUZ, proving they can beat elite opposition during the group stage.

FURIA, meanwhile, had a more difficult road after an early upset loss but successfully fought back to reach playoffs.

Aurora will also try to break a two-series losing streak against FURIA’s Brazilian core, adding extra narrative to the matchup.

Player Quotes Add Context to Krakow Playoffs

Falcons’ kyxsan on surviving the group stage

“It hasn't been the best start of this event for us, but we're still alive, and that's the most important thing.”

“We had some problems on Ancient, but it's a map that we haven't played a lot recently.”

These comments reflected the brutal level of competition at IEM Krakow.

FURIA’s molodoy on the CS2 competitive scene

“All teams now understand how the game is working, and it's hard to play against a top 10 or top 20 team.”

“Counter-Strike is a live moment.”

These quotes perfectly capture the parity and unpredictability of the current CS2 era.

Key Storylines to Watch at IEM Krakow 2026

1. Can anyone stop Spirit or Vitality?

Both teams skipped the quarter-finals and look like the strongest title contenders.

2. G2 vs MOUZ — a high-stakes elimination match

G2 already pushed Spirit to the limit in groups, while MOUZ arrive with momentum after a clutch qualification.

3. FURIA vs Aurora — stylistic clash

Aurora’s structure meets FURIA’s aggression in what could be the most explosive quarter-final.