FaZe Clan will not be at IEM Cologne Major 2026. The organization that won PGL Major Antwerp in 2022 and reached three consecutive Major grand finals under NEO has dropped outside the top 20 of the European VRS standings, with no matches left before the April 6 invite cutoff. A team that was a Budapest Major finalist 107 days ago is now watching the biggest Major in CS2 history from home.
The numbers tell the whole story. FaZe’s 2026 series record is a dismal 4-13. They have not advanced past the group stage of a single event this year. Not at PGL Cluj-Napoca (1-3 Swiss exit). Not at IEM Kraków (9th place). Not at ESL Pro League Season 23 (eliminated in Stage 2, 1-3). Not at BLAST Open Rotterdam (0-2 in groups, losses to Aurora and TYLOO). Not at DraculaN Season 6, where a defeat to Passion UA and an elimination by fnatic sealed the coffin on their Major hopes.
How FaZe’s VRS Ranking Collapsed in 2026
At the start of March, VRS analyst MischiefCS2 gave FaZe a 71.4% chance of making Cologne. Within weeks, that number hit zero.
The problem was twofold. First, FaZe kept losing. Second, the teams around them kept winning. Liquid, 3DMAX, BIG, and Team BetBoom all signed up for open LAN events and collected VRS points while karrigan’s squad was stuck in group stage elimination loops. By the time FaZe dropped to 25th in the European VRS, the math was dead. Valve confirmed through HLTV’s Milan Švejda that HLC Belgrade would not accept late sign-ups, shutting down the last theoretical escape route.
The NEO Era Ends With a 3-9 Record
FaZe pulled the trigger on March 16, parting ways with head coach Filip “NEO” Kubski after nearly three years. The Polish legend guided the team to three Major finals, but results had cratered long before the official announcement. FaZe’s overall series record under NEO in 2026 was 3-9 at the time of his departure.
Analyst Dominik “GruBy” Świderski stepped in as interim head coach for Rotterdam. The results did not improve. FaZe went 0-2 in groups at BLAST Open, then beat aimclub before falling to Passion UA and fnatic at DraculaN. That makes GruBy’s record 1-4 across both events, with a win over aimclub the lone bright spot.
Sources tell FragWire that Ashley “ashhh” Battye, formerly of GamerLegion, remains a name under consideration for the permanent coaching role. Nothing is confirmed.
karrigan at the Crossroads
Finn “karrigan” Andersen turns 35 this year. He has played in more Major playoffs than almost any active player. He is also the IGL of a team that just missed a Major for the first time since he rejoined FaZe in 2022.
The financial implications are severe. Missing Cologne means missing sticker revenue, which according to multiple sources remains one of the largest single income streams for tier-1 organizations. For FaZe, owned by GameSquare, that lost revenue could directly impact their ability to fund a roster rebuild.
There is one piece of positive news: David “frozen” Čerňanský has reportedly extended his contract, keeping the Slovakian rifler on the books for the foreseeable future. Frozen has been FaZe’s most consistent performer across 2025 and 2026, and losing him would have turned a crisis into a catastrophe.
The question now is whether karrigan, broky, Twistzz, and jcobbb are all part of the plan moving forward. FaZe’s next scheduled event is PGL Bucharest 2026 (April 4-11), but that tournament has zero VRS relevance for their Cologne fate. It does, however, offer a stage to prove this roster still has a pulse.
What FaZe’s Absence Means for the CS2 Landscape
FaZe’s absence from Cologne opens a slot that teams like BIG, Gentle Mates, and K27 are fighting over. It also means the Major bracket loses one of its most iconic names. The last time FaZe missed a CS2 Major was never. They attended every single one under NEO.
For perspective: FaZe went from second place at Budapest to eliminated from Major contention in under four months. That is one of the fastest top-to-bottom slides in modern Counter-Strike history.
The VRS invites lock on April 6. FaZe will not be on the list.
