ESL confirm IEM Cologne 2025 invites

24 teams are set to fight for one of the most prestigious trophies in Counter-Strike.

ESL has confirmed the invites for IEM Cologne 2025, which is set to go down right after the summer player break. From July 23-August 3, 24 of the world's best teams will come together in Cologne to contest one of the most prestigious tournaments in the CS calendar.

The invites were doled out based on the June VRS update, and every single one of the top 24 teams in the world based on the VRS accepted the invite.

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Valve releases IEM Cologne and EWC invite-deciding June ranking update

VRS slots nine through to 24 have earned Stage 1 invites, where a double-elimination BO3 bracket will decide which eight teams progress to Stage 2.

In Stage 2 the 16 teams will be split across two groups, where double-elimination BO3 play will decide the playoff teams. First place in the group stage grants a semi-final berth, whilst second and third place ensures a quarter-final place.

The playoffs will be a single-elimination BO3 bracket until the final, which will be BO5.

Ninjas in Pyjamas are one of the notable attendees, their playoff-making exploits at PGL Astana ensuring a healthy boost to their VRS standing, and thus a Stage 1 invite. B8 and TYLOO are the other two teams who climbed high enough to secure invites, thanks to their consistent success in the tier-two Europe and Asia scenes respectively.

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NIP beat G2 to secure playoffs in Big Event debut

Natus Vincere can consider themselves lucky to have secured a Stage 2 invite, a poor first season seeing them narrowly hang on to a top-eight VRS standing ahead of GamerLegion, who missed catching Aleksi "⁠Aleksib⁠" Virolainen's side by 12 points.

The invites are as follows:

Stage 2

Vitality
Spirit
The MongolZ
G2

MOUZ
Falcons
Aurora
Natus Vincere

Stage 1

GamerLegion
Astralis
HEROIC
Virtus.pro
Complexity
MIBR
Ninjas in Pyjamas
paiN

FaZe
3DMAX
Liquid
FURIA
TYLOO
B8
BIG
FlyQuest