Schedule, results, teams, and more

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(Updated scores and schedule)

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

Vitality are the reigning Major and IEM Cologne champions. Photo by ESL

These are the 24 teams competing in the tournament:

Directly Qualified TeamsPlay-in TeamsTeam VitalityMOUZTeam SpiritTeam FalconsThe MongolZAurora GamingG2 EsportsNatus VincereGamerLegionFaZe ClanAstralis3DMAXHEROICTeam LiquidVirtus.proFURIATYLOOMIBRB8Ninjas in PyjamasBIGpaiN GamingFlyQuest

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 AGroup BTeam VitalityG2 EsportsTeam FalconsThe MongolZGamerLegionFURIAAstralis3DMAXTeam SpiritMOUZNAVIAurora GamingNinjas in PyjamasFaZe ClanTeam LiquidHEROIC

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

A shot of the stage and crowd in IEM Cologne at the Lanxess Arena in Germany, which is called as the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. — No other place like the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. Photo by ESL

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

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 vs. MOUZ

Group stage (Stage 2)

July 26

Group A upper bracket quarterfinals

6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons 2-0 GamerLegion 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 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): The MongolZ 2-0 3DMAX

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

July 27

Group B upper bracket quarterfinals

6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): MOUZ 2-0 Team Liquid 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit 2-0 HEROIC

Group A upper bracket semifinals

9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons 0-2 The MongolZ 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality 2-0 G2 Esports

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

GamerLegion and Astralis are eliminated

July 28

Group B upper bracket semifinals

6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): MOUZ 2-0 NAVI 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit 2-0 Aurora

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 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): FaZe Clan 2-0 Team Liquid

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

Ninjas in Pyjamas and Aurora are eliminated.

Group A upper bracket final

9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality 2-0 The MongolZ

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

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

TeamPlacementPrize MoneyTBDChampion$400,000TBD2nd$180,000Natus VincereTeam Vitality3rd-4th$80,000The MongolZFURIA5th-6th$40,000G2 EsportsFaZe Clan7th-8th$24,000Team Falcons3DMAXAurora GamingNinjas in Pyjamas9th-12th$16,000AstralisGamerLegionTeam LiquidHEROIC13th-16th$10,000paiN GamingVirtus.proTYLOOFlyQuest17th-20th$4,500ComplexityB8MIBRBIG21st-24th$2,500

Where to watch IEM Cologne 2025

Catch the matches live on the following ESL official channels:

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