CDL 2026

Worlds 2025 in China

20/09/2025

This season, the Call of Duty League faces one of its most decisive years. New rules, new teams, new faces... But the excitement and passion remain unchanged.

This guide will review all the latest developments in Call of Duty's top competition for 2026, but it will also explain how the competition works for those watching the CDL for the first time.

Teams changes

The CDL is a franchise league, so teams have fixed spots (no promotions or relegations). But that doesn't mean there can't be changes, and this year there have been quite a few. This season marks the first without any of the original names from the CDL's inaugural season.

Let's review the changes:

Minnesota RØKKR → G2 Minnesota

Even though G2 Esports had the operational rights to the franchise since 2023, it wasn't until this season that they took the step of abandoning the name “RØKKR.”

Toronto Ultra → Toronto KOI

In October 2025, the Canadian franchise announced a change of name and logo. With this move, the Overactive Media group now has all its teams competing under the brand “KOI”.

Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 → Paris Gentle Mates

In November 2025, the French organization announced its name change and relocation. The COD's return to the French capital fulfilled a long-held desire that had been pursued since 2022 with the disappearance of Paris Legion.

Vegas Falcons → Riyadh Falcons

Falcons leaves Las Vegas and moves to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Riyadh Falcons, its new brand, will be the first franchise in CDL history located in the Middle East.

Atlanta FaZe → FaZe Vegas

If Falcons leaves Las Vegas, FaZe will take over. In September 2025, the relocation of the franchise from Atlanta to Las Vegas was announced, along with the resulting name change. They will be FaZe Vegas starting in the 2026 season.

Competition format

All matches during the season are played as best-of-five maps (BO5), except for the finals, which will be best-of-seven maps (BO7).
The season is divided into 4 stages.
Each stage includes an online qualifying phase for all franchises.
Each stage concludes with a “Major” (LAN event) where the champion is crowned.
After some of the stages, a “Minor” will also be held.
Teams will be given points (“CDL Points”) during the season for qualifying matches (10 per win) and based on their position in both the ‘Major’ and “Minor” tournaments.
- Scoring by position in “Major”:
  - 1st→ 100 CDL points
  - 2nd → 75 CDL points
  - 3rd → 60 CDL points
  - 4th → 45 CDL points
  - 5th/6th → 30 CDL points
  - 7th/8th → 15 CDL points
- Scoring by position in “Minor”:
  - 1st→ 30 CDL points
  - 2nd → 20 CDL points
  - 3rd → 10 CDL points
The teams with the most CDL Points accumulated during the season will qualify for the Championship (playoffs/final).

Schedule

This year's schedule will be as follows:

- Online qualifiers for Major I (December 5 to January 25).
- Major I: Dallas, United States (January 29 to February 1).
- Online qualifiers for Major II (February 13 - March 22).
- Major II: Birmingham, United Kingdom (March 27 to March 29).
- Online qualifiers for Major III (April 17 to May 10).
- Minor I: (April 24 to April 26).
- Major III: Atlanta, United States (TBD in May).
- Online qualifiers for Major IV (May 29 to June 21).
- Minor II: (June 5 to June 7)
- Major IV: Paris, France (June 25 to June 28).
- Championship: Las Vegas, United States (June 16 to June 19)

Modes

This season, the “Control” mode is being removed and replaced with “Overload,” which means that the modes used in the 2026 CDL will be:

Hardpoint: Capture and defend active zones to earn points.
Search & destroy: Alternate between detonating and defusing bombs, with no respawns.
Overload (new): Take the device to enemy areas to sabotage them.