NAVI opens applications for junior CS2 roster

NAVI has announced that applications for aspiring players to join its Junior Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) roster are open.

The announcement follows the Ukrainian esports organisation’s decision to sell its former junior team in order for players to continue advancing their playing careers.

The NAVI Junior project, now in its third season, has seen several talents from Ukraine and the surrounding region rise through the ranks and cement their place within the top tier of Counter-Strike esports.

The most recent example of this is Drin ‘Makazze’ Shaqiri, who earned a promotion to the organisation’s main roster, making his debut at IEM Cologne 2025, where NAVI finished in the top four.

NAVI’s previous junior departed the organisation on August 1st, 2025, after Turkish organisation FUT Esports purchased the team for an undisclosed fee.

Open to Counter-Strike players aged between 15 and 17, the programme acts as an opportunity for aspiring professionals to gain experience from an established esports organisation and a CS coach to provide them with the tools required to become a top player within Valve’s first-person shooter.

In addition to the age limit, applicants must have a FACEIT ELO rating of 3,400 or above and have the ability to speak English.

Throughout 2025, NAVI has continued to cement its place as one of the most recognisable esports organisations in the world.

Alongside its Counter-Strike programme, it also fields a junior Dota 2 roster, with its most recent iteration receiving promotion to the main team after a strong showing at PGL Wallachia Season 5.

Elsewhere, it has expanded into several other titles, including CrossFire and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, due to its involvement as a partner team for the Esports World Cup.

The biggest expansion for the organisation came in June, when it officially entered the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) with the aim of competing at the season-ending World Championship.