ESL has officially confirmed the invites for IEM Cologne 2025. This prestigious tournament will take place from July 23 to August 3, 2025, in Cologne, where the 24 best teams in the world will compete for one of the most prestigious trophies in Counter-Strike.

Tournament Details
Invitations were distributed based on the June 2025 Valve Regional Standings (VRS) update, and all 24 teams from the top rankings accepted their invitations. The tournament will consist of two stages. In Stage 1, the 16 teams ranked 9th to 24th in the VRS will compete in a double elimination BO3 format. The eight teams that advance will join the eight Stage 2 teams that are directly invited thanks to their top 8 ranking in the VRS.

In Stage 2, the 16 teams will be divided into two groups, where a double elimination BO3 format will also be used. First place in the group guarantees a spot in the semifinals, while second and third place secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The playoffs will be held in a single elimination BO3 format until the final, which will be played in a BO5 format.