I have followed the Call of Duty League long enough to see how quickly team names, cities, and ownership can change. Keeping track of every franchise is not always easy, especially when familiar organizations return with new branding.
The Call of Duty League teams competing in 2026 include longtime favorites, fresh identities, and international additions that have changed the league’s lineup.
Knowing who these teams are and how the franchise system works makes it much easier to follow the season, understand roster changes, and keep up with every Major on the road to Championship Weekend.
What Are Call of Duty League Teams?
The Call of Duty League (CDL) is a 12-team franchised esports competition. Each team holds a permanent, city-based slot owned by a separate organization. That organization fields a professional roster each season and controls the team operating within its franchise position.
The league launched in 2020 and was modeled after traditional North American sports leagues such as the NFL and NBA. Activision sold exactly 12 franchise slots to ownership groups, with each slot originally costing around $25 million at launch.
Those franchise slots are permanent, meaning teams cannot earn promotion into the CDL or face relegation based on results. Owners can rebrand, rename, or relocate teams while keeping the slot. In 2024, Activision removed franchise fees and reimbursed owners, improving financial stability.
All 12 Call of Duty League Teams in 2026
The CDL’s 12 franchises compete on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this season. Ten represent North American cities. Two represent international markets, with one based in Europe and the other in the Middle East.
Here are the 12 Call of Duty League teams competing during the 2026 season.
North American Call of Duty League Teams
Ten of the 12 Call of Duty League teams represent cities across the United States and Canada. While some franchises have kept the same identity since the league launched, others have changed owners, cities, or branding over the years.
| Team | Home City | Owner(s) | Previous Name / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Breach | Boston, MA | Kraft Sports Group & Oxygen Esports | Previously part of the Chicago franchise. |
| Carolina Royal Ravens | Charlotte, NC | ReKTGlobal | Formerly London Royal Ravens. |
| Cloud9 New York | New York City, NY | Cloud9 | Replaced New York Subliners in 2024. |
| FaZe Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | Atlanta Esports Ventures & FaZe Clan | Formerly Atlanta FaZe. |
| G2 Minnesota | Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN | G2 Esports | Formerly Minnesota RØKKR. |
| Los Angeles Thieves | Los Angeles, CA | 100 Thieves | Joined the CDL in 2021. |
| Miami Heretics | Miami, FL | Misfits Gaming & Team Heretics | Original 2020 franchise. |
| OpTic Texas | Dallas, TX | OpTic Gaming | Formerly Dallas Empire. |
| Toronto KOI | Toronto, ON | OverActive Media & Movistar KOI | Canadian franchise. |
| Vancouver Surge | Vancouver, BC | Canucks Sports & Entertainment & Enthusiast Gaming | Canadian franchise. |
These North American franchises make up most of the league and continue to shape the CDL’s competitive scene. Although several teams have changed names or ownership over time, each franchise still holds its permanent place in the league.
International Call of Duty League Teams
The CDL also includes two international franchises representing Europe and the Middle East. Both compete alongside the North American teams in every online qualifier, Minor, and Major throughout the season.
| Team | Home City | Owner | Previous Name / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Gentle Mates | Paris, France | Gentle Mates | Acquired the franchise for the 2026 season and became the first European team to win a CDL Major (Major I). |
| Riyadh Falcons | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Team Falcons | Formerly the Las Vegas franchise before relocating and rebranding for 2026. |
These two franchises highlight the CDL’s growing international presence, bringing top-level Call of Duty esports to Europe and the Middle East while competing against North American teams throughout the season.
Call of Duty League Team Rosters (2026)
Each Call of Duty League team fields a four-player starting roster during the 2026 season.
These players compete in online qualifiers, Minor tournaments, Majors, and Championship Weekend. Teams can also make roster changes during the season, so the lineups below reflect the current active starting rosters.
| Team | Current Starting Roster |
|---|---|
| Boston Breach | Afro, Purj, Nestie, Spart |
| Carolina Royal Ravens | Craze, Exceed, Fire, Lurqxx |
| Cloud9 New York | Encourage, Hide, Nejra, OkiS |
| FaZe Vegas | Simp, Drazah, 04, Abuzah |
| G2 Minnesota | Estreal, Skyz, Kremp, Mamba |
| Los Angeles Thieves | Scrap, aBeZy, HyDra, Nium |
| Miami Heretics | SupeR, RenKoR, Traix, MettalZ |
| OpTic Texas | Dashy, Shotzzy, Huke, Mercules |
| Paris Gentle Mates | Ghosty, Envoy, Sib, Neptune |
| Riyadh Falcons | Cellium, Exnid, Pred, KiSMET |
| Toronto KOI | CleanX, JoeDeceives, Insight, Kips |
| Vancouver Surge | Gwinn, Lunarz, Nero, TJHaLy |
These are the current starting lineups for the 2026 CDL season. Since teams can sign substitutes or make transfers during the year, the official team pages are the best place to check for the latest roster updates.
Why CDL Team Names Change
Some Call of Duty League teams have changed names over the years because the CDL uses a franchise system. Owners can rebrand, relocate, or sell a franchise while keeping its league spot.
As a result, older team names may still appear even though the same franchises continue competing today.
1. The Franchise Slot Stays
Every CDL team competes through a permanent franchise slot rather than a permanent team name. That means owners can change a team’s branding, logo, or home city without losing their place in the league.
For example, Atlanta FaZe became FaZe Vegas before the 2026 season, but the same ownership group kept the franchise slot and continued competing in the CDL.
2. When Ownership and Branding Both Change
Some franchise slots undergo major changes that include both new ownership and a new identity. The franchise, once known as Las Vegas Legion, later became Vegas Falcons before rebranding as Riyadh Falcons for the 2026 season.
Although the name, ownership, and city changed over time, the franchise slot remained active and continued competing in the Call of Duty League.
3. What This Means for Fans
Older team names still appear in match highlights, tournament records, and online discussions, which can be confusing for newer fans. In most cases, the franchise has not left the league.
Instead, it now competes under a different name, ownership group, or city. Knowing how the franchise system works makes it easier to follow Call of Duty League teams and understand their history across different seasons.
How the CDL Season Works
The 2026 season runs from December 5, 2025, through July 19, 2026. It is divided into four stages, with each stage following the same format before teams reach Championship Weekend.
Stage Structure
Every stage follows the same progression. Teams move through three separate phases, with results carrying forward into the next event.
- Online Qualifiers: All 12 teams play online matches to determine tournament seeding.
- Minor Tournament: A single-elimination event that awards CDL Points.
- Major Tournament: A double-elimination event with larger CDL Point rewards.
How Teams Qualify for Champs
CDL Points earned throughout the season determine which teams reach Championship Weekend. Every Online Qualifier, Minor Tournament, and Major Tournament awards points that count toward the standings.
If you’re familiar with R6 Ranks in Order, the progression system follows a similar points-based approach.
- Top 8 teams: Advance to Championship Weekend.
- Bottom 4 teams: Miss the postseason.
- CDL Points: Accumulate across all four stages.
Championship Weekend
Championship Weekend is the final event of the CDL season. In 2026, FaZe Vegas hosts the tournament in Las Vegas from July 16–19.
The top eight teams compete through a playoff bracket to determine the Call of Duty League champion.
Competitive Game Modes
Every CDL match is played in a 4v4 format across three competitive modes.
- Hardpoint: Objective-based respawn mode focused on controlling rotating hills.
- Search and Destroy: Round-based mode with no respawns and a single life per round.
- Overload: New for 2026, replacing Control in the competitive rotation.
Each stage of the CDL season helps shape the standings and determine which teams qualify for Championship Weekend. Strong performances throughout the year are just as important as success in the final tournament.
Final Take
The Call of Duty League teams continue to evolve through new branding, ownership changes, and competitive rivalries, but the league’s franchise system keeps everything connected.
Once I understood how the franchises work, it became much easier to follow each team’s history and track the season from the opening qualifiers to Championship Weekend.
Keeping up with the latest rosters and standings also helps make every Major more exciting to watch. Which CDL team are you supporting this season? Share your favorite team or predictions in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Call of Duty League team has won the most championships?
OpTic Texas is the defending back-to-back CDL champion, winning titles in 2024 and 2025. However, if you include every season since the league launched in 2020, several franchises have won at least one championship, making the title race highly competitive.
Can Call of Duty League teams change their players during the season?
Yes. CDL teams can make roster changes during the season by signing new players, promoting substitutes, or completing transfers. Teams often adjust their lineups to improve performance before Major tournaments or Championship Weekend.
How are Call of Duty League teams selected?
The CDL is a franchised league, so teams cannot qualify through open tournaments. Each organization owns a permanent franchise slot and chooses its own players, coaching staff, and support personnel before every season.
Do all Call of Duty League teams compete in every Major?
Yes. All 12 Call of Duty League teams compete throughout the season. They first play Online Qualifiers to determine tournament seeding before advancing to Minor and Major tournaments, where they earn CDL Points.
