Team Liquid round out Americas invite list for IEM Cologne after Passion UA’s Riga loss

Team Liquid have booked their place at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, with their qualification confirmed after Passion UA failed to overcome Sangal at the Urban Riga Open Season 4. The result sees the newly-returned Americas squad for Liquid make the major in Stage 1.

How Liquid earned their invite to the IEM Cologne Major 2026

Team Liquid’s roster was in freefall after the first set of Tier-1 tournaments in the season saw the team fail to make a dent against top opposition. With the presence of Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak, and Guy “NertZ” Iluz placing the team on the EU VRS rankings, Liquid would require a serious windfall of points in just a handful of appearances to make it into Cologne. Thus, the team chose to return to their North American roots, swapping NertZ for G2’s Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa in a trade-deal.