Team Vitality enters IEM Cologne Major 2026 as the clear frontrunner to reach the Grand Final, buoyed by back-to-back Major titles and strong Stage 3 results against teams like MOUZ and The MongolZ. Team Spirit, the event's defending champions from the prior year, remains a top contender alongside Natus Vincere and Falcons, with recent playoff qualification secured through Swiss-system wins. The shift to best-of-three matches in Stage 3 has rewarded consistent rosters while eliminating early underperformers like Astralis. Playoff bracket positioning, home-crowd advantage at Lanxess Arena, and potential semifinal matchups will shape which squads advance to the June 21 final, as trader consensus reflects recent form and head-to-head records among the elite field.