Natus Vincere vs G2 to decide IEM Cologne Stage 3 playoff spot

Natus Vincere and G2 meet on June 15 in Cologne with the final Stage 3 playoff berth at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 on the line. The match is scheduled for 17:00 local time. Earlier on the same day, 9z face The MongolZ at 12:00 and BetBoom play FUT at 14:30; each of those matches will decide whether a team advances or finishes 2-3 in the pool.

Stage 3’s final day determines which teams move into the Major knockout rounds. Natus Vincere and G2 play a direct contest for the remaining playoff spot from Stage 3. BetBoom and 9z opened the event 2-0 in their pools; both now must win their final matches to avoid dropping to 2-3 and exit the stage.

BetBoom enters its match against FUT as the lower-ranked side on paper, and 9z face The MongolZ in a similar position. The outcomes of those games will set final bracket placements for teams advancing from Stage 3 and decide matchups in the knockout phase.

Tournament officials have confirmed that regardless of the results in the 2-2 deciders, Spirit and Team Vitality will begin their playoff runs from the same side of the bracket. Earlier Stage 3 results fixed that bracket alignment, leaving the remaining matches to determine opponents within each bracket half.

All matches take place in Cologne on June 15 and form the closing slate of Stage 3 at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The day’s results will finalize which teams advance to the Major playoffs and how the knockout bracket is seeded.