PGL has revealed the teams invited to the regional closed qualifiers for PGL Masters Bucharest 2026, the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 tournament with a $1.25 million prize pool. Cybersport In reports, citing HLTV, that the qualifiers will determine the final four teams joining the directly invited field at the main event in Romania.
In Europe, direct invitations to the Closed Qualifier went to B8, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Nuclear TigeRES and Inner Circle. The remaining four places are reserved for teams advancing through the European Open Qualifiers. Ukrainian teams B8 and Inner Circle received direct invitations to the European Closed Qualifier.
The South American qualifier will feature ShindeN, paiN, DENDELE and Galorys as invited teams, with four additional participants coming from the Open Qualifiers. In North America, Chicken Coop, Liquid, NRG and Voca received invitations, while another four teams will earn their places through open qualification.
Team Liquid and NRG will compete for the North American spot at PGL Masters Bucharest 2026. Each of the European, North American and South American Closed Qualifiers will award one berth at the main tournament.
PGL has introduced a separate qualification structure for the Asia-Pacific region. FlyQuest and LFO 8 were invited to the Oceania qualifier, TYLOO and 5star to the East Asia qualifier, while DEPO and Legion received places in West Asia. The APAC qualification system includes separate Oceania, East Asia and West Asia stages before the region’s representative is determined.
The Closed Qualifiers will follow the open qualification stage. Europe and the Americas are scheduled to play their decisive qualifiers from September 9 to 12, while the Asian and Oceanic stages will begin on September 9, with the final APAC qualifier concluding on September 13.
The four successful teams will join the 12 organizations already invited directly to PGL Masters Bucharest. NAVI, Spirit, Vitality, MOUZ, FURIA and G2 are among the teams confirmed for the main event. Falcons were the only leading team based on the relevant VRS ranking to decline their invitation, allowing The MongolZ to enter the field.
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 will take place in Bucharest from October 24 to 31. Sixteen teams will compete for a total prize pool of $1.25 million. PGL Masters Bucharest will be one of the major CS2 tournaments of the autumn 2026 season.
