CS2 Esports World Cup 2025: Teams Overview

The celebration of esports continues with the Esports World Cup, and now it’s time for Counter-Strike 2. The CS2 EWC 2025 will take place from August 20 to August 24, bringing together the 16 best teams in the world to battle for the EWC 2025 championship title and a $1,250,000 USD prize pool. In this blog, we’ll break down each team, take a look at their achievements throughout the season, and try to figure out who has the best chance of becoming the Esports World Cup 2025 champion.

Esports World Cup 2025 CS2 Teams Overview

The 16 best teams from around the world were selected for the tournament through VRS Global (V-Rating System). The only exception is TYLOO, who qualified by winning the Asian Champions League 2025. Let’s take a closer look at the teams, their rosters, and their achievements to analyze who’s in the best shape and ready to become the CS2 EWC 2025 champion.

TYLOO, as the only team to qualify differently, will face Astralis in the opening match of the tournament. This clash is a symbolic rematch, as not long ago TYLOO managed to defeat Astralis in the FISSURE Playground #1 final with a 3:1 score. This match is a great opportunity to test your analytical skills, CS knowledge, or simply your luck with our partner GG.bet.

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Detailed team breakdown:

The strongest teams have gathered in one place to fight for the championship title, a massive prize pool, and the valuable EWC points that every organization is eager to earn. On the 20th, the first round of the tournament kicks off — check out the CS2 Esports World Cup 2025 Round 1 Schedule for full details so you don’t miss the key matches, including the games of your favorite team.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each team — the path they took to qualify for CS2 EWC 2025, as well as their most recent achievements to better understand their current form.

Team Vitality

The team that can currently be called the strongest in the world — Team Vitality. Over the past six months, they’ve won everything there is to win, building up a streak of seven championship titles.

Here are their results:

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 1st
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 - 1st
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 1st
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 1st
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 1st
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 1st
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 - 5th-8th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th

The team has shown an incredible level of performance. With the addition of one of the best players in the world, ropz, they started playing CS on an entirely different level, and for a while it seemed like nothing and no one could stop them. Finishing 3rd-4th at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 can hardly be called a slump, as every team goes through growth and development. And their losses came not to just anyone, but to world top-3 and top-4 teams — MOUZ and The MongolZ. Right now, Team Vitality can rightfully be called the main contender for the championship title.

MOUZ

One of the strongest contenders for the EWC 2025 title. The team has been delivering excellent results throughout the year, yet every time they find themselves just one step away from the championship trophy. Let’s take a look at their recent results.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 3rd-4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 - 3rd-4th
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 3rd
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 2nd
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 2nd

Four lost finals and five tournaments with 3rd-4th place finishes — that kind of consistency is remarkable, and it shows just how hungry MOUZ are for victory at this championship. Time and time again, the championship title has been just one step away, only to slip through their fingers. The big question now is: can MOUZ finally overcome themselves and lift the trophy with their current roster? Or will this season end with major roster changes? We’ll find out very soon.

Team Spirit

A team with one of the highest power ratings at the tournament, bringing together young talent under the leadership of a highly experienced in-game leader and an equally seasoned coach, who has repeatedly proven to be one of the key reasons why Team Spirit are among the strongest teams in the world.

Team Spirit’s results:

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 1st
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 5th-8th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 - 3rd-4th
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 7th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 3rd-4th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 3rd-4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th

TS are the team that came closest to matching Team Vitality’s level of success this year. Despite a few setbacks at certain tournaments, they quickly bounced back, turning mistakes into valuable experience that eventually led them to championship titles. Even after making a roster change and playing with the new lineup for just a couple of weeks, they managed to confidently secure first place. That’s why Team Spirit are without a doubt one of the strongest contenders for the top spot.

Team Falcons

The star-studded roster of Team Falcons looks excellent on paper and by the numbers, and they should be favorites at every tournament. However, at the moment the team remains very inconsistent and is still searching for their true form.

• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 20th-22nd
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 - 2nd
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 2nd
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 6th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 1st
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 9th-12th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 9th-11th
• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - 2nd
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025: European Qualifier - 1st-4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 13th-16th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th

Every player on the roster impresses with their individual skill, but CS has long been a team game. So far, Team Falcons haven’t found the key to truly dominating the pro scene. Their recent signing of kyousuke is undoubtedly a big boost — a young talent with outstanding aim who put up impressive numbers even at his very first LAN event. Still, for now, that’s not enough to consistently beat the top teams in the world rankings. That said, Team Falcons are definitely not a team to be counted out.

The MongolZ

Without a doubt, The MongolZ are the breakout team of 2025. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, they managed to shake up the professional CS scene, forcing everyone to study their playstyle inside and out.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 5th-6th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 2nd
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 3rd-4th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 3rd-4th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 9th-11th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 7th-8th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 3rd-4th
• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 3rd-4th

The MongolZ are a team that fights until the very end and battles for every single round. No opponent can afford to underestimate them — and they’ve proven that time and time again. However, they haven’t yet found the key to closing out grand finals. Perhaps EWC 2025 will be the moment they figure it out and claim the championship title.

Aurora Gaming

Another team with incredible riflers and one of the highest average fire ratings among all participants of the tournament. However, at the moment they struggle to find consistency and often end up losing matches against opponents who aren’t considered among the strongest.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 12th-14th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 5th-6th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 3rd
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 5th-8th

Aurora Gaming are one of the most unpredictable teams thanks to their aggressive playstyle and strong aim. If they manage to utilize their strengths more effectively, no strategies will be able to withstand that kind of firepower on the server. That’s why Aurora Gaming are considered one of the dark horses of the tournament — and definitely a team worth keeping an eye on.

G2 Esports

G2 Esports are a team currently experiencing one of the steepest declines after their roster changes. Compared to last year, when they consistently reached finals and secured top-4 finishes at nearly every event, they’ve now turned into a lineup that many opponents may see as beatable.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 7th-8th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 9th-11th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 7th-8th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 9th-11th
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 5th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 5th-6th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th

After PGL Bucharest 2025, the team’s results dropped sharply, as they lost their main firepower in the form of m0NESY. At the moment, they’re trying to find their own playstyle, but so far without much success. It’s quite possible that major roster changes await them at the end of the season. Despite this, the team is still a dangerous opponent with experienced players, so it’s far too early to count them out.

Natus Vincere

This organization is known to every Counter-Strike fan and player, but at the moment the team is clearly facing some difficulties. However, their recent roster change — replacing jL with makazze — might help turn things around. Here are NAVI’s recent results.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 5th-8th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 5th-8th
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 2nd
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 7th-8th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 5th-6th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 - 3rd-4th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th

The team consistently makes it to the playoffs and delivers bright, exciting performances throughout tournaments. However, they’ve faced a major problem in the form of their so-called kryptonite — Team Spirit. At four different events where NAVI finished in 5th-6th place, they ran into Team Spirit and lost every time. These defeats came both in group stages and in the playoffs.

At this tournament, though, they’re somewhat spared by the bracket — the only way they could face Team Spirit is if both teams reach the grand final. But before that, NAVI will have to overcome the rest of the world’s CS2 elite.

GamerLegion

At the moment, GamerLegion are probably one of the weakest participants of the tournament. The team competes regularly at S-Tier events but delivers results that are far from satisfying. Even at lower-tier tournaments, they haven’t managed to secure any notable victories. Let’s take a look at their achievements this year.

• CS Asia Championships 2025: European Open Qualifier - 1st-4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 13th-16th
• FISSURE Playground #1 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 5th-6th
• PGL Astana 2025 - 15th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 5th-6th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: European Regional Qualifier - 12th-14th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 5th-8th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 9th-11th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025: European Qualifier - 1st-4th
• RES Showdown Spring 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 7th-8th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 17th-32nd

Of course, every team at this tournament earned their spot thanks to a high level of play. But GamerLegion are still not strong enough for the S-Tier stage. In the first round, they’ll be facing The MongolZ, and with no lower bracket at this event, it’s very likely to be their first and last match. Or could we be in for a shocking outcome?

FaZe Clan

At the moment, they are also a very unstable team still searching for answers on how to start winning consistently. Their attempt to bring in s1mple for a few tournaments did show that the roster is capable of delivering results, but ultimately, that move didn’t bring any significant long-term success.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 7th-8th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 - 5th-6th
• ESL Grand Slam Season 5 - 4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 7th-8th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 3rd
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 9th-12th
• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - 4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 7th-8th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th

For FaZe Clan, these results are far from satisfying, and it’s possible that they need more than just a single roster change. After every tournament, fans look for someone to blame, and most of the criticism usually falls on the team’s captain, karrigan. But as fans, we can’t see the full picture or fully understand the in-game dynamics. Changes are needed, and the team could definitely use fresh young talent — but for now, none are on the horizon. Unfortunately, at this point, FaZe Clan look more like a top-8 team at tournaments.

Astralis

Astralis have a roster filled with very strong and experienced players, but at the moment they aren’t functioning as a single unit. For many opponents, this makes them a favorable matchup — one that could pave the way for an easier path deeper into the tournament.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 13th-16th
• FISSURE Playground #1 - 2nd
• PGL Astana 2025 - 2nd
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: European Regional Qualifier - 7th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 9th-11th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 13th-16th
• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - 3rd
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025: European Qualifier - 6th
• RES Showdown Spring 2025 - 1st
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th

Astralis are still very inconsistent and can drop matches they should be winning on paper without much trouble. At this tournament, if they haven’t fixed their issues, the most they can realistically hope for is a spot in the quarterfinals. And with their opening match against TYLOO — a team they already lost to in a previous final — the challenge looks even tougher.

3DMAX

One of those teams that can truly surprise. They’ve managed to defeat strong opponents more than once, but unfortunately, they haven’t been able to break past the top 5–8 finish.

• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 9th-12th
• FISSURE Playground #1 - 5th-8th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 12th-14th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 9th-12th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 9th-12th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 5th-8th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 9th-11th
• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - 9th-11th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025: European Qualifier - 1st-4th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 17th-32nd

Even though the team’s results leave much to be desired and it’s clear they still struggle to perform on the Tier-S stage, every opponent should be cautious. After all, 3D MAX have managed to win Bo3 series against The MongolZ, Aurora Gaming, and other strong teams ranked in HLTV’s top 10–20.

HEROIC

Unfortunately, at the moment HEROIC can’t really compete with the top-tier teams from HLTV’s top 10. They perform decently at Tier-A events, but when it comes to Tier-S tournaments, their results are very underwhelming.

• CS Asia Championships 2025: European Open Qualifier - 1st-4th
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 13th-16th
• FISSURE Playground #1 - 13th-16th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 17th-19th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 7th-8th
• MESA Nomadic Masters Spring 2025 - 1st
• CCT Season 2 Global Finals - 1st

As we can see from their recent results, HEROIC often get eliminated before reaching the playoffs or fall in the very first playoff matches. The EWC 2025 format means that a single loss sends you out of the tournament. Unfortunately for HEROIC and their fans, their opening opponent is Team Spirit. In theory, they could take the match, but since Spirit’s roster change, the team has looked even stronger — leaving HEROIC with very slim chances of making it to the quarterfinals.

Team Liquid

Team Liquid have been struggling in recent years, showing very inconsistent results. Yet despite all this, they remain one of the most dangerous teams, capable of putting up a fight against any squad from HLTV’s top 20.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 5th-8th
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• RES Showdown Fall 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 13th-16th
• ESL Pro League Season 22: European Qualifier - 9th-16th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 15th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 9th-12th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 5th-6th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 15th-16th

Team Liquid are a team capable of challenging any opponent, with all the tools and players they need to win. Of course, many analysts point out that the team’s main weakness is their inconsistent AWP, which may well be true. At times, ultimate struggles with stability and misses shots he shouldn’t. But when he’s on form, he delivers massively and makes a huge impact for the team.

Virtus.pro

A strong team that hasn’t shown solid results for quite a long time. It also seems that their issues go beyond in-game performance, extending to problems within the roster itself.

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 - 5th-8th
• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier - 1st-8th
• RES Showdown Fall 2025 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 13th-16th
• ESL Pro League Season 22: European Qualifier - 9th-16th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 15th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 - 9th-12th
• Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 - 5th-6th
• PGL Bucharest 2025 - 15th-16th
• BLAST Open Spring 2025 - 9th-12th
• ESL Pro League Season 21 - 5th-8th
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 - 9th-12th
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier - 9th-16th

One of the main issues, according to many analysts, is electronic, who is currently the team’s in-game leader. Back in NAVI, he was one of the strongest riflers on the roster, and opponents often avoided pushing the sites he was holding. At Virtus.pro, however, taking on the role of captain prevents him from fully showcasing his individual skill. Still, if he manages to combine his shooting prowess with effective IGL work, the team could very well contend for a spot among the world’s top 5.

TYLOO

This team from China has won the hearts of many Counter-Strike fans with their gameplay and charisma. And even though they haven’t achieved major success on the international stage, they’ve proven that China can play Counter-Strike at a high level. They are a team to be respected — and one that opponents must always prepare for.

• ESL Challenger League Season 50: Asia - Cup #1 - 13th-16th
• Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 - 17th-20th
• FISSURE Playground #1 - 1st
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 - 20th-22nd
• XSE Pro League Season 4 - 1st
• Asian Champions League 2025 - 1st
• XSE Pro League Season 4: Closed Qualifier - 1st-2nd
• ESL Challenger League Season 49: Asia - 2nd
• XSE Pro League Season 4: Open Qualifier - 1st-8th
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Chinese Regional Qualifier - 2nd

TYLOO are truly a dark horse that can explode at just the right moment. Thanks to their incredible mechanical skill, these players are capable of turning a round in their favor no matter the situation on the map. They’re always exciting to watch — and, of course, to cheer for.

Our Take and Prediction for the CS2 Esports World Cup 2025

No doubt, every team at this tournament has rightfully earned its place — each has gone through a long and difficult journey to get here. But it’s already clear who the main contenders for the championship trophy are. Vitality enter EWC 2025 as the frontrunner thanks to their consistent form and a series of strong results at major events.

That said, the competition is expected to be fierce. With a high degree of certainty, the final will feature teams from the current world top 4. Joining Vitality are Team Spirit, who have been showing steady performance throughout the season, The MongolZ, this year’s breakout sensation, and MOUZ, who remain among the best thanks to cohesive teamwork and rising talent.

Very soon we’ll find out whether Vitality can confirm their status as the leader, or if one of their rivals will manage to break their dominance. Follow EWC 2025 in CS2 to make sure you don’t miss the biggest matches of the season. A spectacular battle awaits — and may your favorite team be the one lifting the championship trophy!