(Updated scores and final rankings)
The Cathedral of Counter-Strike is gearing up for another round of legendary showdowns as IEM Cologne 2025 brings together the world’s best CS2 teams from July 23 to Aug. 3.
Once again, the iconic Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, will host the action with a $1 million prize pot on the line. Many of the top contenders are coming off their runs at the Austin Major 2025, including the eventual winners and reigning IEM Cologne champions Team Vitality.
Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most prestigious events in the CS2 calendar.
IEM Cologone 2025 teams and format
These are the 24 teams competing in the tournament:
| Directly Qualified Teams | Play-in 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 unfolds across three phases: the play-in, group stage, and playoffs.
It all kicks off with 16 teams battling through a double-elimination bracket in the play-in stage, where all matches are best-of-three. The top eight teams from this stage move on to the group stage, joining the eight directly qualified squads based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS) in June.
In the group stage, the 16 teams are split into two GSL-style double-elimination groups. Here’s how the teams are grouped:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Team Vitality G2 Esports Team Falcons The MongolZ GamerLegion FURIA Astralis 3DMAX |
Team Spirit MOUZ NAVI Aurora Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas FaZe Clan Team Liquid HEROIC |
Every match in the group stage is a best-of-three. The top three teams from each group move forward to the playoffs. Group winners punch their ticket straight to the semifinals, while second- and third-place teams head to the quarterfinals, seeded accordingly.
The playoffs follow a single-elimination format. Quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-three, culminating in a best-of-five grand final.
IEM Cologne 2025 schedule and results
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (August 1)
- 8:45am CT | 3:45pm CEST: The MongolZ 0-2 NAVI
- 18-22 Inferno
- 6-13 Ancient
- 12pm CT | 7pm CEST: MOUZ 2-1 FURIA
- 19-16 Train
- 10-13 Mirage
- 13-11 Inferno
Natus Vincere and MOUZ advance to the semifinals.
The MongolZ and FURIA are eliminated.
Semifinals (August 2)
- 8:45am CT | 3:45pm CEST: Team Spirit 2-1 NAVI
- 13-11 Mirage
- 9-13 Nuke
- 13-6 Ancient
- 12pm CT | 7pm CEST: Team Vitality 0-2 MOUZ
- 9-13 Mirage
- 8-13 Train
Team Spirit and MOUZ advance to the grand final.
Natus Vincere and Team Vitality are eliminated.
Grand final (August 3)
- 10am CT | 5pm CEST: Team Spirit 3-0 MOUZ
- 13-7 Mirage
- 13-11 Ancient
- 13-6 Nuke
Team Spirit win IEM Cologne 2025.
Group stage (Stage 2)
July 26
Group A upper bracket quarterfinals
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons 2-0 GamerLegion
- 13-11 Nuke
- 13-6 Mirage
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): G2 Esports 2-0 FURIA
- 13-11 Dust 2
- 13-8 Inferno
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality 2-0 Astralis
- 13-11 Nuke
- 13-8 Overpass
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): The MongolZ 2-0 3DMAX
- 13-2 Nuke
- 13-10 Ancient
Group B upper bracket quarterfinals
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): NAVI 2-1 FaZe Clan
- 11-13 Ancient
- 13-9 Mirage
- 13-5 Nuke
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): Aurora 2-0 NIP
- 13-11 Dust 2
- 19-15 Train
July 27
Group B upper bracket quarterfinals
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): MOUZ 2-0 Team Liquid
- 13-7 Inferno
- 13-9 Train
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit 2-0 HEROIC
- 16-14 Ancient
- 13-8 Nuke
Group A upper bracket semifinals
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons 0-2 The MongolZ
- 9-13 Dust 2
- 9-13 Mirage
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality 2-0 G2 Esports
- 13-5 Inferno
- 13-10 Train
The MongolZ and Team Vitality advance to the playoffs.
Group A lower bracket quarterfinals
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): GamerLegion 1-2 3DMAX
- 13-6 Overpass
- 11-13 Inferno
- 20-22 Dust 2
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): Astralis 0-2 FURIA
- 3-13 Inferno
- 4-13 Dust 2
GamerLegion and Astralis are eliminated
July 28
Group B upper bracket semifinals
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): MOUZ 2-0 NAVI
- 13-10 Mirage
- 13-10 Nuke
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit 2-0 Aurora
- 13-8 Dust 2
- 13-10 Nuke
MOUZ and Team Spirit advance to the playoffs
Group B lower bracket quarterfinals
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): NIP 2-0 HEROIC
- 13-4 Train
- 13-6 Nuke
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): FaZe Clan 2-0 Team Liquid
- 13-6 Mirage
- 13-2 Ancient
HEROIC and Team Liquid are eliminated.
Group A lower bracket semifinals
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons 1-2 FURIA
- 13-7 Train
- 11-13 Mirage
- 7-13 Dust 2
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): G2 2-0 3DMAX
- 13-8 Ancient
- 13-7 Inferno
Team Falcons and 3DMAX are eliminated.
July 29
Group B lower bracket semifinals
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): NAVI 2-1 NIP
- 9-13 Nuke
- 13-3 Inferno
- 13-11 Train
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): Aurora 0-2 FaZe Clan
- 10-13 Nuke
- 1-13 Mirage
Ninjas in Pyjamas and Aurora are eliminated.
Group A upper bracket final
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality 2-0 The MongolZ
- 13-5 Mirage
- 13-8 Inferno
Team Vitality advance to the semifinals whileThe MongolZ enter the quarterfinals.
Group B upper bracket final
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit 2-1 MOUZ
- 16-13 Ancient
- 19-22 Mirage
- 13-6 Overpass
Team Spirit advance to the semifinals while MOUZ enter the quarterfinals.
Group A lower bracket final
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): FURIA 2-0 G2
- 13-6 Dust 2
- 16-14 Inferno
Group B lower bracket final
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): NAVI 2-0 FaZe Clan
- 13-4 Ancient
- 13-10 Inferno
FURIA and Natus Vincere advance to the playoffs.
G2 Esports and FaZe Clan are eliminated.
Play-in (Stage 1)
July 23 – Upper bracket round 1
- 3:30am CT | 10:30am CEST (Stream A): TYLOO 0-2 VP
- 3:30am CT | 10:30am CEST (Stream B): GamerLegion 2-0 Complexity
- 6am CT | 1pm CEST (Stream A): FURIA 2-1 FlyQuest
- 6am CT | 1pm CEST (Stream B): Astralis 2-0 B8
- 8:30am CT | 3:30pm CEST (Stream A): FaZe 2-0 BIG
- 8:30am CT | 3:30pm CEST (Stream B): 3DMAX 2-0 MIBR
- 11am CT | 6pm CEST (Stream A): Liquid 2-0 paiN
- 11am CT | 6pm CEST (Stream B): NIP 2-1 HEROIC
July 24
Upper bracket round 2
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): GamerLegion 2-0 VP
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): 3DMAX 0-2 NIP
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): FaZe 2-1 Lquid
- GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and FaZe Clan advance to the group stage.
Lower bracket round 1
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): Complexity 1-2 TYLOO
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): B8 1-2 FlyQuest
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): MIBR 0-2 HEROIC
- Complexity, B8, and MIBR are eliminated.
July 25
Upper bracket round 2
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): Astralis 0-2 FURIA
- FURIA advance to the group stage.
Lower bracket round 1
- 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): BIG 1-2 paiN
- BIG are eliminated.
Lower bracket round 2
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Liquid 2-1 FlyQuest
- 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): VP 0-2 HEROIC
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): Astralis 2-1 paiN
- 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): 3DMAX 2-0 TYLOO
- Team Liquid, HEROIC, Astralis, and 3DMAX advance to the group stage.
- FlyQuest, Virtus.pro, paiN Gaming, and TYLOO are eliminated.
IEM Cologne 2025 final rankings and prize distribution
| Team | Placement | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| Team Spirit | Champion | $400,000 |
| MOUZ | 2nd | $180,000 |
| Natus Vincere Team Vitality |
3rd-4th | $80,000 |
| The MongolZ FURIA |
5th-6th | $40,000 |
| G2 Esports FaZe Clan |
7th-8th | $24,000 |
| Team Falcons 3DMAX Aurora Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas |
9th-12th | $16,000 |
| Astralis GamerLegion Team Liquid HEROIC |
13th-16th | $10,000 |
| paiN Gaming Virtus.pro TYLOO FlyQuest |
17th-20th | $4,500 |
| Complexity B8 MIBR BIG |
21st-24th | $2,500 |
Where to watch IEM Cologne 2025
Catch the matches live on the following ESL official channels:
