NAVI open applications for new Junior CS2 roster

NAVI open applications for new Junior CS2 roster

Natus Vincere have announced that they are recruiting for a new iteration of NAVI Junior, opening public applications to aspiring Counter-Strike 2 players as part of the NAVI Junior CS2 Project — Season 3. The academy intake is aimed at teenagers seeking a structured path into professional CS and will be run under the club’s academy program. 

The call follows a major reshuffle of NAVI’s academy setup this summer. In late June the organization promoted 18-year-old prospect Drin “makazze” Shaqiri to the first team, while confirming it would look to move the remaining Junior roster. That quartet, along with coach coolio, was subsequently transferred to FUT Esports on August 1. 

According to the announcement, the minimum requirements for applicants are: age 15–17, FACEIT ELO 3400+, conversational English, and no active contract with another club. NAVI directs candidates to complete an online form via its website. HLTV highlighted the same criteria when noting the launch of the new intake. 

NAVI position the program as a hands-on academy track that includes guidance from club staff and an experienced coach. In recapping recent results, the organization pointed to the previous Junior lineup’s progress—reaching the top-30 in Valve’s Regional Standings, earning over $200,000 in prize money, and lifting the YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025 trophy—before that roster moved to FUT. 

At the time of writing, HLTV’s team page lists no active players under NAVI Junior, underlining that this is a fresh rebuild rather than a mid-season tweak. The application window gives young players a chance to compete for places as the academy restarts under the black-and-yellow banner. 

Interested candidates can find the full brief and the application form on NAVI.gg.