Check out the opening matches at IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage Three

After two stages of Swiss play at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, just 16 teams remain with a chance at lifting the first Major trophy of the year. Stage Three begins the day after tomorrow, on June 11th. This will be the first Major in history to not have a single NA player in the top 16.

Tournament favorites and arguably the greatest team of all time, Vitality, will be making their debut in this stage alongside fellow heavyweights NAVI and Falcons.

Vitality's first match comes against FUT on Thursday at 07:30AM, who swept Stage Two after defeating B8, TYLOO, and G2. Vitality and FUT have played each other one time, at BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1, where Vitality beat FUT, who were playing with coach András "coolio" Fercsák as a stand-in.

The most high-profile match will be between NAVI and Spirit at 12:00PM on Thursday. Spirit, like FUT, went 3-0 in Stage Two, defeating BetBoom, MIBR, and 9z on their way to a perfect record. NAVI come in on a high, though, as they are the last team to defeat Vitality and ended their 21-tournament semifinal streak in the process.

Here are the opening matches at IEM Cologne Stage Three:

• PARIVISION v. 9z
• The MongolZ v. BetBoom
• Vitality v. FUT
• MOUZ v. Legacy
• Falcons v. G2
• FURIA v. B8
• NAVI v. Spirit
• Aurora v. Monte