The Counter-Strike scene remains in the Americas for another event following IEM Rio, with Fort Worth, Texas, hosting BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1.
North American fans in the Dickies Arena will likely get to see Vitality dominate the competition with their own eyes, unless something truly shocking happens.
FaZe Clan’s Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken is NA’s sole representative on the player side, but there’s little to no chance he will get to play in front of the Fort Worth crowd.
That said, here’s our BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 preview.
| Event | BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 29 – May 3 |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas, USA |
| Total Prize Pool | $1,000,000 USD |
| Winner’s Share | $250,000 USD |
| Number of Teams | 8 |
| Group Stage | April 29- April 30 |
| Playoff Stage | May 1 – May 3 |
| Format | Double-elimination bracket groups (BO3) -> Single-elimination Playoff Bracket (BO3 & BO5 Grand Final) |
BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 will take place from April 29 to May 3, with the group stage spanning the first two days of competition, while the three-day playoffs close out the event.
The eight teams in attendance are divided into two four-team groups, with three teams from each group advancing to the arena. The playoffs will be carried out in a classic single-elimination bracket, closing out with a best-of-five grand final. All other games will be best-of-three series.
The total prize pool amounts to $1,000,000, with the champions taking home $250,000.
Only eight teams will have the chance to play in the Dickies Arena. Credit: © BLAST Premier
Although the BLAST Rivals Season 1 field is small, with only eight squads, some of the best CS2 teams in the world will be in attendance in Fort Worth.
Three of the teams, Vitality, Natus Vincere, and FURIA, are among the world’s elite, with FUT and Astralis close behind them. FaZe and GamerLegion are clearly at the back of the field, while G2 are a wildcard that could upset one of the favorites.
Had the spread within the groups been different, the six teams outside of FaZe and GamerLegion would be bound for the playoffs.
Here are the eight teams making their trip to Fort Worth in their respective groups:
Group A
Group B
Will Vitality continue their reign of terror? Credit: © BLAST Premier
With their nemesis, Falcons, not in attendance, Vitality have pretty much an open runway to the BLAST Rivals Season 1 trophy. The CS2 odds suggest so as well.
On paper, their two biggest threats are NAVI and FURIA. However, the Bees beat them both 2:0 in the playoffs of the previous event, IEM Rio, where they secured their second Grand Slam with the current lineup.
The two teams that could surprise some of the frontrunners are FUT and Astralis. Their performances throughout the first half of the year have been extremely impressive, especially that of FUT, who recently lifted a tier 1 trophy at PGL Bucharest 2026.
On the other hand, two teams not worth CS2 betting on are GamerLegion and, most importantly, FaZe. Both international teams are unlikely to get a series win against anyone but each other.
Read also: MOUZ begin roster revamp ahead of IEM Cologne Major
Featured image credit: © BLAST Premier
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