We pick up from Part 1 where we ranked the teams from 16-9, so if you haven’t read that yet, you should go and do that. Here we count down the final eight teams.
With the Esports Nations Cup slated for November 2026, we at Pley.gg built national Counter-Strike 2 teams using three clear filters: 2025 form, team cohesion, and role fit.
To stress test the concept and our teams, we asked Canadian analyst Donald “Voo” Parkhurst to name his three favorites and a dark horse, from the teams we built.
Disclaimer: this is our ranking, not Voo’s. His input addresses the teams we created.
The top eight
8) Brazil: latto, KSCERATO, nqz, FalleN, yuurih
Balanced and experienced, fundamentals win them series, lack of a pure first-in entry star keeps them just outside the very top.
7) Denmark: Staehr, karrigan, jabbi, device, sjuush
Role tidy, device hopefully trending up under karrigan, sjuush anchors, karrigan steadies mid rounds, deep-run
profile.
6) Ukraine: r1nkle, s1mple, zont1x, b1t, npl
High floor with b1t and zont1x, high ceiling if s1mple’s current form translates. The r1nkle and s1mple double AWP can carry and both are capable riflers.
5) Israel: NertZ, xertioN, Spinx, flameZ, HeavyGod
Elite rifle depth, simplified calling can fly in short prep windows, explosive when fights break out. An AWPer in anarkez or any IGL from even tier 2 would be in this team in a split second.
4) France: ZywOo, Maka, apEX, bodyy, Lucky
ZywOo keeps them alive in any bracket, double AWP with Maka can work with careful map choices. apEX the best IGL of 2025 and will have to work around the AWPs.
3) Turkey: XANTARES, Wicadia, woxic, jottAAA, MAJ3R
Aurora cohesion plus star form, pace from Wicadia, closing from woxic, structure from MAJ3R.
2) Russia: donk, m0NESY, kyousuke, FL1T, chopper
Absurd individual players with decent role fit. Chopper knows how to make stars shine, so him and FL1T will be the sacrificial players for the three superstars in donk, m0NESY and kyousuke.
1) Mongolia: Senzu, 910, bLitz, mzinho, Techno
Proven, practiced, and fresh off the EWC title after sweeping Aurora 3-0 in the grand final. Chemistry plus confidence.
Voo’s expert take
The teams in the Canadian experts top three is probably not a surprise to anyone, but the order might be different than many expected. Here is his ranking and a few thoughts on the teams:
- Mongolia
A real team with proven chemistry that gives them an edge even against raw firepower. - Russia
The most individually talented roster Voo has seen, explanation barely required. - Turkey
Similar to Mongolia, it feels like a complete team. Voo considered Ukraine and Israel, but is wary of Israel’s lack of a true IGL. Turkey is an easy third if XANTARES holds his EWC form.
Dark horse: Ukraine
Voo picks them for raw firepower and the rare s1mple plus zont1x duo, even with s1mple off the AWP. He thinks experience may favour other teams, but this roster suits the event and should be great entertainment.
