FaZe, G2, 100 Thieves, Falcons clinch CoD playoffs at Esports World Cup

FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, 100 Thieves and Team Falcons were the first four teams to secure their spots in the playoff stage thanks to wins Thursday in the $1.8 million Call of Duty tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris.

FaZe Clan defeated Moivstar KOI 3-1 and G2 Esports blanked Gentle Mates 3-0 in Group A upper-bracket semifinals. In Group B, 100 Thieves outlasted OpTic Gaming 3-2 and Team Falcons defeated Team Heretics 3-1.

There were 10 matches in all Thursday, and Team Falcons in fact won twice. They kicked off Group B upper-bracket quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Project Notorious before facing Heretics.

Group stage play concludes Friday as the remaining eight teams try to negotiate their way through the double-elimination bracket to claim spots in the playoffs that begin Saturday.

The group stage began with 16 teams, and all matches are best-of-five. The playoffs will be best-of-seven until the grand final on Sunday, which will be best-of-nine.

The champion will claim a $600,000 check along with 1,000 World Cup points. The four teams that go winless won't go home empty-handed. They'll receive $20,000 apiece, but only the eight teams that reach the playoffs will earn World Cup points.

On Thursday, FaZe Clan opened with a narrow 250-236 win on Gridlock Hardpoint, and Movistar KOI countered with a 6-4 result on Sake Search and Destroy. FaZe moved back in front with a 3-2 win on Gridlock Overload and finished things off with a 250-205 triumph on Sake Hardpoint.

G2 swept Gentle Mates 250-201 on Scar Hardpoint, 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy and 4-2 on Gridlock Overload.

In Group B, 100 Thieves opened with a 250-227 result on Frequency Hardpoint. OpTic answered by taking Den Search and Destroy 6-3 and Scar Overload 4-3. 100 Thieves staved off elimination with a close 250-239 win on Den Hardpoint, then finished the job with a 6-3 victory on Gridlock Search and Destroy.

Falcons beat Heretics 250-202 on Scar Hardpoint, suffered a 6-2 setback on Fringe Search and Destroy and rolled from there by winning Den Overload 4-3 and Den Hardpoint 250-200.

The first four eliminations also took place Thursday in the lower-bracket quarterfinals. The Pit knocked out Carolina Royal Ravens 3-2 and Cloud9 defeated OMiT 3-1 in Group A; Team WaR swept Boston Breach 3-0 and Project Notorious eliminated Vancouver Surge 3-1 in Group B.

The tournament continues Friday with four lower-bracket semifinal matches:

--Gentle Mates vs. The Pit (Group A)

--Movistar KOI vs. Cloud9 (Group A)

--Team Heretics vs. Team WaR (Group B)

--OpTic Gaming vs. Project Notorious

Call of Duty BO7 Esports World Cup prize pool

1. $600,000; 1,000 World Cup points

2. $320,000; 750 points

3. $210,000; 500 points

4. $130,000; 300 points

5-8. $75,000; 200 points

9-12. $40,000

13-16. $20,000 -- Carolina Royal Ravens, OMiT, Boston Breach, Vancouver Surge

--Field Level Media