Esports World Cup 2025: All CS2 Teams Invited, $1.25M Showdown Set for August in Riyadh
- Sagar Mankar
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
The countdown to the Esports World Cup 2025 is officially on—and the CS2 scene is heating up. Organizers have just revealed the 16 elite teams invited to compete in this year’s event, set to unfold in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from August 20 to 24. With a $1.25 million prize pool and a ruthless no-group-stage format, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Invited Squads
Based on the VRS (Virtual Ranking System) standings, 15 of the world’s top CS2 teams have earned their spots:
3DMAX
Astralis
Aurora Gaming
FaZe Clan
G2 Esports
GamerLegion
HEROIC
MOUZ
Natus Vincere (NAVI)
Team Falcons
Team Liquid
Team Spirit
Team Vitality
The MongolZ
Joining them as the final 16th squad is TYLOO, who booked their ticket by winning the 2025 Asian Champions League, edging out Lynn Vision in the grand final. It’s the only team to qualify through direct competition.
NAVI, despite recent form struggles, are back to defend their crown after clinching the 2024 title in a dramatic finale against G2 Esports.
Interestingly, teams like Astralis and GamerLegion, who didn’t make the cut for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, have a shot at redemption here.
Single-Elimination Format
This isn’t your usual tournament grind. The Esports World Cup ditches group stages entirely—every team is thrown straight into a single-elimination bracket. That means every match is a do-or-die affair. One loss, and you're out.
With only five days of play, we’re talking about non-stop, high-pressure Counter-Strike action from the first round to the final.
The Prize Pool Breakdown
Here’s what’s on the line:
Champion – $500,000
Runner-up – $230,000
3rd & 4th place – $100,000 each
5th–8th – $40,000 each
9th–16th – $20,000 each
In addition, CS2 teams will earn Club Championship points, contributing to the $27 million overall prize pool for organizations across all games. The top-performing club by the end of the season can earn a whopping $7 million bonus—so there’s a lot more on the line than just one trophy.
Where to Watch
Matches will be streamed live on the Esports World Cup’s Twitch (twitch.tv/ewc) and YouTube (@ewc) channels, with VODs available post-match. Community broadcasters may also cover the event.
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