CS2 IEM Cologne 2025: Schedule, results, teams, and more

(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

These are the 24 teams competing in the tournament:

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:

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

Group Stage (Stage 2)

July 26

Group A upper bracket round 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
• 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 round quarterfinals

• 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): NAVI 2-1 FaZe Clan
• 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): Aurora 2-0 NIP

July 27

Group B upper bracket round quarterfinals

• 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream A): MOUZ vs. Team Liquid
• 6:30am CT | 1:30pm CEST (Stream B): Team Spirit vs. HEROIC

Group A upper bracket semifinals

• 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream A): Team Falcons vs. The MongolZ
• 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream A): Team Vitality vs. G2 Esports

Group A lower bracket round quarterfinals

• 9am CT | 4pm CEST (Stream B): GamerLegion vs. 3DMAX
• 11:30am CT | 6:30pm CEST (Stream B): Astralis vs. FURIA

(to be updated)

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

Where to watch IEM Cologne 2025

Catch the matches live on the following ESL official channels: