(Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, 100 Thieves and Team Falcons were the first four teams to secure their spots in the playoff stage thanks to wins Thursday in the $1.8 million Call of Duty tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris.

FaZe Clan defeated Moivstar KOI 3-1 and G2 Esports blanked Gentle Mates 3-0 in Group A upper-bracket semifinals. In Group B, 100 Thieves outlasted OpTic Gaming 3-2 and Team Falcons defeated Team Heretics 3-1.

There were 10 matches in all Thursday, and Team Falcons in fact won twice. They kicked off Group B upper-bracket quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Project Notorious before facing Heretics.

Group stage play concludes Friday as the remaining eight teams try to negotiate their way through the double-elimination bracket to claim spots in the playoffs that begin Saturday.

The group stage began with 16 teams, and all matches are best-of-five. The playoffs will be best-of-seven until the grand final on Sunday, which will be best-of-nine.

The champion will claim a $600,000 check along with 1,000 World Cup points. The four teams that go winless won't go home empty-handed. They'll receive $20,000 apiece, but only the eight teams that reach the playoffs will earn World Cup points.

On Thursday, FaZe Clan opened with a narrow 250-236 win on Gridlock Hardpoint, and Movistar KOI countered with a 6-4 result on Sake Search and Destroy. FaZe moved back in front with a 3-2 win on Gridlock Overload and finished things off with a 250-205 triumph on Sake Hardpoint.

G2 swept Gentle Mates 250-201 on Scar Hardpoint, 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy and 4-2 on Gridlock Overload.

In Group B, 100 Thieves opened with a 250-227 result on Frequency Hardpoint. OpTic answered by taking Den Search and Destroy 6-3 and Scar Overload 4-3. 100 Thieves staved off elimination with a close 250-239 win on Den Hardpoint, then finished the job with a 6-3 victory on Gridlock Search and Destroy.

Falcons beat Heretics 250-202 on Scar Hardpoint, suffered a 6-2 setback on Fringe Search and Destroy and rolled from there by winning Den Overload 4-3 and Den Hardpoint 250-200.

The first four eliminations also took place Thursday in the lower-bracket quarterfinals. The Pit knocked out Carolina Royal Ravens 3-2 and Cloud9 defeated OMiT 3-1 in Group A; Team WaR swept Boston Breach 3-0 and Project Notorious eliminated Vancouver Surge 3-1 in Group B.

The tournament continues Friday with four lower-bracket semifinal matches:

--Gentle Mates vs. The Pit (Group A)

--Movistar KOI vs. Cloud9 (Group A)

--Team Heretics vs. Team WaR (Group B)

--OpTic Gaming vs. Project Notorious

Call of Duty BO7 Esports World Cup prize pool

1. $600,000; 1,000 World Cup points

2. $320,000; 750 points

3. $210,000; 500 points

4. $130,000; 300 points

5-8. $75,000; 200 points

9-12. $40,000

13-16. $20,000 -- Carolina Royal Ravens, OMiT, Boston Breach, Vancouver Surge

--Field Level Media