ESL announces IEM USA 2026 details

ESL just released details regarding three of their Pro Tour Masters events in 2026. IEM USA was announced alongside IEM tournaments in Brazil and China.

ESL is shifting to a focus on global rankings for VRS invites, but each of these three events will have regional invites and qualifiers that align with the tournament's host country.

IEM USA has yet to confirm a host city, but the tournament will run from May 11th to May 17th. The top eleven teams in the Global Valve Regional Standings will be invited directly to the event, with the top team from North and South America receiving invites, as well.

Two additional teams will qualify via a global closed qualifier, which will feature twelve teams invited via VRS and four teams from an open qualifier. All matches will be best-of-threes in a double-elimination bracket. One final team will qualify from the Amercias region closed qualifier. This tournament will see four teams invited via the Region's VRS and another four come in through a closed qualifier. It will also be a double-elimination best-of-three tournament.

Each of the ESL Pro Tour Masters events will feature $1,000,000 in total winnings, split between prize money and club rewards.