The MongolZ gewinnt
Our pick was The MongolZ at 55%, so this is a loss. HLTV lists FaZe 2 : 1 The MongolZ on July 31, 2026, with Nuke 16-12, Mirage 7-13, Ancient 13-8. ([hltv.org](https://www.hltv.org/matches/2396016/faze-vs-the-mongolz-blast-bounty-2026-season-2-finals))
The MongolZ arrive with a cleaner current-tournament signal against relevant opposition, beating HEROIC 2-1 and Wildcard 2-0 in the Bounty online stage. FaZe also qualified with two wins, but their path was softer on paper and the DENDELE 2-1 result adds some closing volatility. Our recent track record does not materially overturn the first-pass view: both FaZe and The MongolZ picks were correct, but FaZe's dropped pick prevents a confidence upgrade while The MongolZ's HEROIC win supports resilience without creating a durable team-specific boost.
Limited current-season LAN sample for this matchup; treat the Malta quarter-final as a pressure-stage revalidation rather than relying on older LAN identity.
High-risk underdog/value-style pick: FaZe selected The MongolZ under the Bounty format, and public/market sentiment appears more FaZe-leaning, but The MongolZ have the more coherent current-event upset path and slightly better current ranking/VRS profile.