The Cathedral of Counter-Strike is set to host thrilling battles once again as IEM Cologne 2025 gathers the elite CS2 teams globally from July 23 to August 3.
The renowned LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany, will be the battleground, featuring a total prize pool of $1 million. Numerous leading teams are entering the tournament following their performances at the Austin Major 2025, including the defending champions, Team Vitality.
Here’s what you need to know about this prestigious event in the CS2 calendar.
IEM Cologne 2025: Teams and Format
The tournament will feature 24 teams competing for the title:
| Directly Qualified Teams | |
|---|---|
| Team Vitality MOUZ Team Spirit Team Falcons The MongolZ Aurora Gaming G2 Esports Natus Vincere |
GamerLegion FaZe Clan Astralis 3DMAX HEROIC Team Liquid Virtus.pro FURIA TYLOO MIBR B8 Ninjas in Pyjamas BIG paiN Gaming FlyQuest |
The tournament will progress through three main phases: play-in, group stage, and playoffs.
The play-in stage kicks off with 16 teams competing in a double-elimination format, with all matches being best-of-three. The top eight teams will advance to the group stage, where they will join eight others that directly qualified based on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) in June.
During the group stage, the remaining teams will be divided into two GSL-style double-elimination groups. Again, all matches will follow the best-of-three format. The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.
The group winners will secure spots in the semifinals, while second- and third-placed teams will compete in the quarterfinals, ranked accordingly.
The playoffs will follow a single-elimination format, featuring best-of-three matches for both the quarterfinals and semifinals, leading to a best-of-five grand final.
IEM Cologne 2025: Schedule, Results, and Standings
This section will be updated with information as soon as the official match schedule is released.
IEM Cologne 2025: Final Rankings and Prize Distribution
| Team | Placing | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | Champion | $400,000 |
| TBD | 2nd | $180,000 |
| TBD | 3rd-4th | $80,000 |
| TBD | 5th-6th | $40,000 |
| TBD | 7th-8th | $24,000 |
| TBD | 9th-12th | $16,000 |
| TBD | 13th-16th | $10,000 |
| TBD | 17th-20th | $4,500 |
| TBD | 21st-24th | $2,500 |
Where to Watch IEM Cologne 2025
Fans can catch the matches live on the official ESL channels:
