Semifinal Preview: Team Spirit vs FURIA

The IEM Krakow 2026 semifinal between Team Spirit and FURIA is scheduled for February 7 at 15:45 CET. The match is a best-of-three series. Team Spirit reached the semifinals as a group winner. FURIA arrived through the quarterfinals and now meets one of the most stable lineups in Europe. The result will decide one of the two spots in the grand final and could shape the race for the ESL Grand Slam VI.

Quick facts:

• Match: Team Spirit vs FURIA
• Date and time: February 7, 15:45 CET
• Format: Best-of-three
• Event: IEM Krakow 2026
• Location: Krakow, Poland

FURIA advanced by beating Aurora 2-0 in the quarterfinals. The series ended with map scores of 7-13 on Dust2 and 4-13 on Mirage. That win sent FURIA into the semifinal bracket to face Spirit. The team showed solid control across both maps, closing out rounds with clean finishes and avoiding long strings of losses.

Team Spirit took first place in their group and moved straight to the semifinals. Their path included a seeding match win over G2 by a 2-1 scoreline, with the series featuring Anubis and Dust2. Spirit’s consistent results across recent events, and their status as Budapest Major 2025 champions, set expectations for a disciplined semifinal performance.

What could matter in this matchup:

• Early economy management and conversion of pistol rounds
• Comfort picks in the veto, especially maps like Dust2, Mirage, or Anubis
• Mid-round calling and trading efficiency on T sides
• Clutch performance in tight rounds

Tournament Overview

IEM Krakow 2026 runs from January 28 to February 8 in Krakow, Poland. The event is part of ESL Grand Slam VI and has a $1,000,000 prize pool. The playoffs use a single-elimination bracket. Group winners qualified directly to the semifinals, while runners-up and third-place teams entered the quarterfinals on February 6.

Team Spirit and Vitality topped their groups and advanced to the semifinals. Both teams are seen as favorites at this event, with Team Spirit holding the Budapest Major 2025 title. All playoff matches are best-of-three, except the grand final, which is best-of-five.

Key Playoff Results So Far

• Quarterfinal: FURIA 2-0 Aurora (maps ended 7-13 on Dust2 and 4-13 on Mirage). FURIA moves on to play Team Spirit in the semifinal.
• Quarterfinal: MOUZ 2-0 G2. Overpass finished 16-13 after overtime, and MOUZ closed the series on Dust2. G2 placed 5th–6th and earned $40,000. The series featured close halves, but G2 fell short in late-round situations.

Earlier in the event, Spirit beat G2 2-1 in a seeding match that included Anubis and Dust2. MOUZ eliminated Falcons 2-0 in the Group B lower bracket to reach the playoffs.

Upcoming Matches and Schedule

• February 7, 15:45 CET — Semifinal: Team Spirit vs FURIA
• February 7, 19:00 CET — Semifinal: Vitality vs MOUZ
• February 8, 13:30 CET — Third-place match
• February 8, 17:00 CET — Grand final (best-of-five)

All matches leading up to the grand final are best-of-three.

Prize and Stakes

The tournament prize pool is $1,000,000. The winner takes the largest share, expected to be above $400,000, and secures the first major CS2 trophy of 2026. The event also affects ESL Grand Slam VI standings. Vitality currently leads with two eligible wins, while FURIA and Spirit have one each. A title here would move either Spirit or FURIA closer to the grand slam target, while a Vitality victory would extend their lead. MOUZ remains in contention with a chance to enter the grand slam race if they claim the trophy.

No semifinal results were available at the time of writing. The playoffs conclude on February 8 with the grand final.

What to Watch Across the Final Days

• Whether Team Spirit’s structured play can contain FURIA’s pace
• Vitality’s form against a confident MOUZ lineup after a clean quarterfinal
• Impact of veto choices on close matchups, given the map pool overlap
• Conversion rate in clutches, which already played a role in G2’s exit

With two semifinals set for February 7 and the final day on February 8, the bracket is straightforward: win and move on. The format leaves little room for error. Teams need reliable starts, stable economy control, and clean mid-round calls to survive the last steps in Krakow.