FURIA has advanced to the semi-finals of IEM Cologne 2026 after defeating 9z with a 2-1 scoreline. The Brazilian squad dropped the opening map of Dust2 before recovering to secure wins on Mirage and Overpass. This victory pushes the organization past the quarter-final hurdle, a stage where they faced elimination at the Majors in Budapest and Austin in 2025.
Yuri “yuurih” Boian highlighted the relief of returning to a deep playoff run after a prolonged absence from semi-final stages at top-tier events.
Amazing. It has been a long time since we made the semi-finals. The last time was in Rio in 2022,” Yuurih said. “I have been struggling a little bit with my performance in some tournaments, but the motivation we have, everyone is playing well, I am playing well, and the feeling is amazing.
Recovering from an early deficit
The series started poorly for FURIA as 9z took control of Dust2. The momentum shifted on Mirage and Overpass, driven by individual clutches and a solid defensive half from the Brazilian side.
In the first map they played really well,” Yuurih explained. “In the other two, we started winning clutches, so it was very important. It was really tough in the beginning of the match, and we got six rounds on the CT side, so this helped a lot, and Overpass as well.
Their established playbook on the final map provided a necessary confidence boost to close out the series.
Overpass we like to play, so it was easier than the others,” he added. “When we are winning clutches, the match is always easier.
Server issues on stage
During the second map, a technical issue disconnected KSCERATO in the middle of a crucial round on Mirage. The team maintained their focus to secure the round and keep the match under control.
We were entering B on Mirage, and it was only one guy, and he disconnected, so we had the round,” Yuurih said. “But it is more about how we are going to handle the game after that round. KSCERATO is an experienced player, so it was fine.
Looking ahead to Aurora
FURIA will play Aurora in the semi-finals on Saturday. Yuurih expects a highly tactical match against an opponent known for dictating the tempo of the game.
Every time we play against them, it is really tough, and this is going to be tough again,” Yuurih stated. “We need to focus on our game. This team is really good, and they know how to change the pace in the game. It is really tough to play against them, but I know that if we play our game, win more clutches, and play well in good situations, we are going to win.
You can see the interview in the video below.
