RLCS 2026 - Boston Major
The RLCS Boston Major is the second major of the 2026 season, where the top 16 teams from around the world compete in the city of Boston, USA, for massive prize money and qualification points for the World Championship. The tournament utilizes a group stage format that advances to the "AFL Final Eight" playoffs to ensure the highest levels of competition and excitement. The event concludes with pivotal matches in a Bo7 format to crown the major champion amidst a lively crowd.
Format
Group Stage: February 19th – 20th
The opening phase features 16 teams divided into four groups of four, competing in a Single Round Robin format where every team plays three matches.
- Match Format: All matches are Best-of-5 (Bo5).
- Qualification Tiers:
- 1st Place: Advances to the Playoffs Upper Bracket.
- 2nd Place: Advances to the Playoffs Lower Bracket.
- 3rd & 4th Place: Eliminated from the tournament.
- Tiebreakers: Specific group stage tiebreaker rules apply to resolve any standing deadlocks.
Playoffs: February 21st – 22nd
The final stage utilizes an AFL Final Eight system for the qualifying 8 teams, with all matches upgraded to Best-of-7 (Bo7).
- Double Chance (Top 4): Group winners start in a position where they have two chances to reach the Final Four.
- Single Elimination (5th–8th): Teams that finished 2nd in their groups start with only one chance; a single loss results in immediate elimination.