BLAST Open Fall 2026: Format, Teams, odds, predictions, and more

Pavo Jurkic Published August 25, 2026

Now that the Esports World Cup 2026 is all wrapped up, the Counter Strike 2 esports scene’s schedule is so tight that it already has another huge event just around the corner. BLAST Open Fall 2026 is what we’re talking about, and it’s set to feature 16 teams with a whopping $1,100,000 in prize money.

Here’s everything you need to know about its format, competing teams, outright winner odds, predictions, and more.

Event overview

Tournament format and schedule

BLAST Open Fall 2026 event will play in the classic groups plus playoffs format. Here’s what it looks like:

Group stage (August 26 to 31)

• Two double-elimination best-of-three groups
• Each group features eight teams
• Top three teams advance to the playoffs
• Winners advance to the semifinals
• Runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as high seeds
• Third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals as low seeds

Playoffs (September 4 to 6)

• Single-elimination bracket
• Quarterfinals and semifinals will be played as best-of-three series
• Grand finals will be played as best-of-five series

BLAST Open Fall 2026 teams

As mentioned in the intro, the 2026 BLAST Open Fall will feature 16 teams in total. 12 earned direct invitations, while 4 had to qualify via their respective regional qualifiers.

Here’s the full list:

• Team Spirit
• Team Falcons
• Team Vitality
• Natus Vincere
• FURIA
• MOUZ
• Legacy
• Aurora Gaming
• G2 Esports
• FUT Esports
• 9z Team
• paiN Gaming
• IC Esports
• M80
• DENDELE CS
• Lynn Vision Gaming

Outright odds

Here’s a closer look at the top teams according to the best esports betting sites using outright winner odds:

In other words, the three main favorites are Team Falcons, Team Spirit, and Team Vitality. According to what we’ve seen at the EWC 2026, donk and the company look like the ultimate force of nature coming into this one.

Odds as of August 25 on GG.BET and are subject to change.

BLAST Open Fall 2026 predictions

In this section of our BLAST Open Fall 2026 preview, we’ll try to predict the outcome of both groups. More precisely, we’ll try to decipher which six teams will find their way to the playoffs:

Group A predictions

First things first, Group A. Team Spirit shouldn’t have any issues against DENDELE, while their second upper bracket clash is likely going to be against G2.

If they can squeeze through, they’ll clinch the playoffs no matter how they play in their final group stage clash. So, long story short, Team Spirit are expected to continue their excellent run of form.

As for the two remaining spots in the playoffs, NaVi and FURIA are the favorites. At least one of them will have to go through the hassle of the lower bracket, though, so we might be in for a few surprises.

There won’t be a lack of challengers in Group A, that’s for sure. The aforementioned trio will have to go through quite the struggle against the likes of G2, Aurora, and even paiN Gaming. But the entire group stage consists of best-of-three series, so we shouldn’t see any major surprises.

Group B predictions

As for Group B, the situation is slightly more complicated there. Falcons and Vitality shouldn’t have any major issues with reaching the upper bracket finals and qualifying for the playoffs.

But the third place is wide open, with MOUZ, FUT, 9Z, and Legacy all posing as tough competitors. Who knows, perhaps Inner Circle and Lynn Vision create one or two surprises here.

Here’s what the CS2 betting odds say, courtesy of GG.BET:

What’s next?

The 2026 BLAST Open Fall is set to finish on September 6, after which we should’ve had YaLLa Compass Summer and FISSURE Playground #5. Unfortunately, YaLLa was cancelled earlier this year, while FISSURE was postponed.

So, the next big tournament this year, FISSURE Playground #3, is going to start just 2 days later (on September 8), followed by the StarLadder Series Fall 2026 on September 17.

In short, this year’s CS2 esports schedule is as tight as it gets.

Featured image credit: BLAST