Well, ESL just publicized it and IEM Rio returns in 2026. Would you think we vanished? That’s their tagline along with the Brazilian flag and a promise to ‘turn up’ the heat. Already the responses are very hot indeed. It’s like a complete mix-up of hype, salt, and inter-region dispute even before any map has been played. Such is the classic Counter-Strike community, always identical.
For those who only want the naked truth: ESL, the organizer of the Intel Extreme Master tournaments, has officially announced the return of IEM Rio in 2026. This is attributed to the IEM Rio Major 2022, which is predicted to be the most significant CS:GO event in 2022, creating a hype for its extreme, passionate crowd, and gradually pulling the whole world towards it. With this news, the Brazil e-sports market and the foreign players enjoying the very special atmosphere among the crowd get a lot.
But to be honest, the announcement tweet is only the gunshot of the beginning. The main story is continuously narrated in the comments and this one is a battleground. The main line of the army is the total hype squad. Accounts like @BtcVIPCasino are tweeting, “See you in Rio! CHAMA! 🇧🇷” and @Maddzamil just yelling, “THIS IS BRAAZZILLLL.” That’s the vibe they are giving off and it is working for a lot of the gamers. The memory of the 2022 crowd is vivid—a wall of sound that certainly became a legendary part of the tournament itself. Like one of the tweets from @Glitchymagic said, “Rio’s crowd energy is unmatched. The passion they bring elevates the whole tournament. Let’s see those arenas shake again!” So that’s the ideal situation, right?
However, you need to scroll a little further. And the uncertainty pops up. Actually, scratch that, they don’t come in quietly; they barge the door open. A very common theme in the replies is a tough, self-analytical, and even a bit cynical attitude from some of the Brazilian fans. It’s as if they have been treated poorly in the past and now they are not going to risk being hurt again. The teasing is coming in swiftly. @shyodos replied, ‘Isso tudo pra tomar surra em casa 😒 which means ‘All this just to get beaten at home 😒. Yikes! That’s pretty much relatable.
The picture is getting sharper. There is a multitude of replies that are already anticipating the empty seats that will occur if the Brazilian teams get eliminated. @s1_sauron delivered it without mince words: ‘i cant wait to see empty arena , because no brazil team in the final.’ Another user, @KiNGqbown, made the same point but, in a playful way, came up with a new funny name: ‘IEM Library 2026 (all BR teams eliminated).’ IEM Library. That’s brutal. And also a little funny in a very painfully accurate way. It hints at a critique that often the audience is only there for the local teams and during the international matches, there is a library-like silence. An Australian user, @shaniwaterman, even chimed in and drew a parallel with UFC events in Brazil, where the fans ‘only care for their own nation’ and this can spoil the atmosphere.
And then there is the FURIA part of it. The Brazilian organization FURIA quote-tweeted the announcement and their reactions are a different drama altogether. People are already commenting on the team’s performance… in 2026! One user, @VittoDias, made fun of a current player with ‘100% Jesus em 2025 é foda minha Furia’ (‘100% Jesus in 2025 is tough my little Furia’). Another one, @HlioQueiroz4, was less poetic: ‘Vai toma no cu, time ridÃculo, dominado por um time muito pior’ (‘Go f yourself, ridiculous team, dominated by a much worse team’). The fervor is real and it has a dual nature—fierce loyalty and even fiercer criticism.
Wait, what was I talking about? Oh yes, the location drama. Not everybody is over the moon about it being in Rio. @GabrielBoos said, ‘Why RJ, FERJEE whyy?? Sao Paulo is much better…’ This sparked a little thread with the official Rio esports federation account, @ferjeeoficial, arguing their turf: ‘i’m Rio’s esports federation………. it’s part of my job make Rio the capital of CS in Brasil.’ Even city pride is a competitive matter!
And the international mocking is also a factor that cannot be neglected. One of the MOUZ accounts messaged at the announcement, and Brazilian replies erupted even before they. Meanwhile, on other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox, communities are having their own heated discussions about game updates.
