The Call of Duty League (CDL) 2026: Stage 1 Major in Dallas marks the start of another electrifying competitive season—and it already hits different. The arrival of four new team identities, an updated format, and the transition into Black Ops 7 gives the league an energetic pulse. 

With hosts OpTic Texas entering as back-to-back champions and a packed CDL 2026 roadmap, Major 1 opens with genuine momentum. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know to keep up with the action, including the schedule, teams, streams, and ticket information.

CDL 2026 Major 1 Location & Dates

The CDL 2026 Major 1 will take place at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, and will be hosted by OpTic Texas—reigning champions of both the 2025 CDL Championship and Esports World Cup.

The tournament runs from January 29 to February 1, 2026, preceded by online qualifiers from December 5, 2025, to January 25, 2026.

CDL 2026 Major 1 Format

Qualifying Weeks

The Major 1 online qualifiers will finalize the seeding for the LAN tournament segment. Teams will play seven matches each over five weeks, with each victory awarding 10 CDL points.

Bracket Stage

The Bracket Stage brings all twelve CDL partner teams together in a double-elimination format. The top eight teams from the online qualifiers will begin in the Upper Bracket, while the bottom four will play from the Lower Bracket. 

All matches will be played as best-of-five series, except the Grand Final, which will be a best-of-seven series. The confirmed CDL Major 1 modes and map pool are listed below:

CDL 2026 Major 1 Schedule

Here is the complete CDL 2026 Major 1 schedule, including the dates and times for matchups at every tournament stage.

Online Qualifiers

Qualifier matches are played every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with three series per day.

Each gameday follows the same schedule: the first match begins at 8:00 PM GMT, followed by the second match at 9:30 PM GMT, and the final game at 11:00 PM GMT. The corresponding American time zones are provided in the table below.

Bracket Stage

The CDL Major 1 Bracket Stage schedule is not yet available.

Note: For specific match fixtures, you can refer to the official CDL website.

Prize Pool Distribution

CDL Major 1 boasts a total prize pool of $365,000 and x CDL Points, distributed between the teams as follows:

Teams Competing At CDL 2026 Major 1

Twelve of the world’s best Call of Duty teams will play in CDL Major 1. Each team’s seeding will be decided based on rankings in the online qualifiers. 

• Boston Breach
• Carolina Royal Ravens
• Paris Gentle Mates
• Los Angeles Thieves
• Miami Heretics
• G2 Minnesota
• Cloud9 New York
• Riyadh Falcons
• OpTic Texas
• Toronto KOI
• Vancouver Surge
• FaZe Vegas

How To Watch CDL 2026 Major 1

With the end of the exclusivity agreement with YouTube, this year you can watch all CDL 2026 Major 1 matches on CDL’s official YouTube as well as Twitch channels. 

Tickets

If you plan to attend CDL 2026 Major 1 in person, you can purchase a ticket for a single day or four days via Tixr. Premium tickets are also available, offering better views, guaranteed seating for all four days, and early access to the venue.

FAQs

When and where will CDL 2026 Major 1 take place?

CDL 2026 Major 1 will take place at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, from January 29 to February 1, 2026.

What is the CDL 2026 Major 1 prize pool?

CDL 2026 Major 1 boasts a total prize pool of $365,000. The winning team will take home $150,000 in prize money.

How can I watch CDL 2026 Major 1?

You can either purchase a ticket to attend the CDL 2026 Major 1 via Tixr or follow the action live on CDL’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.

Who won the CDL Major 1 in 2025?

Atlanta FaZe won CDL 2025 Major 1 by beating Los Angeles Thieves 4–3 in Madrid, Spain.

Who is the highest-paid CoD player?

Tyler “aBeZy” Pharris from the United States is the highest-paid CoD player. He has amassed over $2 million in prize money across 72 tournaments.

References

1. Schedule | Call of Duty League (The CALL OF DUTY LEAGUE)
2. Call of Duty League (YouTube)
3. Call of Duty (Twitch)
4. 2026 Call of Duty League OpTic Texas Major I, presented by Monster Energy (Tixr)