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RLCS 2026 - Boston Major: MENA Open 3

CompletedTier A

The RLCS 2026 - Boston Major: MENA Open 3 is the third and final decisive leg of the open qualifiers for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, qualifying for the international Boston Major tournament in 2026. This tournament is the "final battle" of Phase 1 (Split 1) of the season, where the excitement reaches its peak as it represents the last chance to determine the final standings of the RLCS points and find out which two teams will officially fly to represent the region on the global stage in Boston, USA.

Rocket LeagueJan 22, 2026 – Jan 31, 2026$79,500Epic Games BLAST

Format

🎮 Tournament Format & Schedule

1. The Open Qualifier (Double Elimination) — January 22nd – 23rd, 2026

  • Format: A comprehensive Double Elimination Bracket giving teams a crucial safety net to bounce back through the Lower Bracket if they drop an early series.

  • Match Rules:

    • Early rounds feature fast-paced Best-of-3 (Bo3) series.

    • Once the bracket narrows down to the Top 192 teams, the format scales up entirely to high-stakes Best-of-5 (Bo5) series.

  • Progression: The Top 24 teams successfully survive the bracket to secure their spot in the next stage.

2. The Swiss Stage — January 24th, 2026

  • Format: The field expands to 32 teams split evenly into 2 separate groups. Each group runs a classic 16-Team Swiss System Format.

  • Match Rules: A rigorous test of consistency where every single match is played as a Best-of-5 (Bo5) series.

  • Progression: The Top 8 teams per group (16 teams in total) successfully navigate the Swiss field to advance.

3. The Group Stage — January 29th, 2026

  • Format: The 16 surviving teams are divided into 2 GSL-style groups consisting of 8 teams each.

  • Match Rules: Intense tactical gameplay where all matches are strictly played as Best-of-5 (Bo5) series.

  • Progression: The Top 4 teams from each group (8 teams in total) punch their tickets to the final arena.

4. The Playoffs — January 30th – 31st, 2026

  • Format: A dynamic AFL Final Eight system that heavily rewards Group Stage performance:

    • Upper Seeding Advantage: The Top 4 teams from the Group Stage earn a two-chance buffer before reaching the Final Four.

    • Lower Seeding Pressure: Teams finishing 5th–8th start directly in elimination mode with only one chance to survive.

  • Match Rules: The ultimate championship gauntlet—all playoff matches are grueling Best-of-7 (Bo7) series.