Miposhka returns to Team Spirit ahead of EWC and TI

Dota 2 competitive season is quickly reaching the climax point. Esports World Cup is only weeks away, while The International 2026 is set to kick off in August. With that in mind, this is the perfect time for those who want to make their last roster moves.

For Team Spirit, it’s more of an addition to the current roster rather than a replacement. Their double TI champion and former team captain, Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov, is coming back from retirement to join the coaching camp.

Miposhka stepped down from the Team Spirit active roster after last year’s TI edition. He will return now, but to join forces with Milan "MiLAN" Kozomara in the coaching position. This marks his first official coaching role with a team, and what better one to choose than the one you won two TI and one Esports World Cup title with.

While Team Spirit heads to Esports World Cup 2026 as reigning champions, with a direct invite in their pocket and a shot at defending their title, for The International, they must take the long road via regional qualifiers.

Western and Eastern Europe regions are merged this year into one big EU qualifier with four slots up for grabs. Team Spirit will enter the battle for one of those slots tomorrow, June 21, 2026. Their first series will be against VP. Prodigy.

The Europe closed qualifiers will unfold from June 21st to 28th. The International itself is set to take place in Shanghai, China, this year, August 13-23.