Here are IEM Cologne 2025 Teams of Stage 1: New CS2 Season Begins Now!

Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne is a prime example of a typical Tier-S CS2 tournament, featuring a $1,222,000 prize pool and set to take place in Cologne, Germany, from July 23 to August 3. The event is structured around two main stages, followed by playoffs. The first stage, so-called play-in, running from July 23 to July 26, features 16 teams competing in two rounds. The 4 upper bracket winners and 4 lower bracket winners will advance to Stage 2 where they'll have a chance to fight for a spot in the playoffs.

Here, I provide an overview of all Stage 1 teams and analyze the eight opening matchups of IEM Cologne in an attempt to predict the outcomes.

IEM Cologne Stage 1 Schedule

The Play-In stage of Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 will run from July 23 to 25 and feature a double-elimination bracket format. All matches between teams of Tier S and Tier A level will be played as best-of-three (Bo3), with the top eight teams advancing to the Group Stage – the second tournament phase.

Here’s IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Schedule, which includes 16 teams:

The Opening Round takes place on July 23, after which the 8 winning teams advance to Round 2, also known as the Upper Quarterfinals, where they will determine the first four teams to qualify for the next stage of the tournament. The 8 teams that lose in the Opening Round drop to the lower bracket, specifically Lower Round 1, where they will play elimination matches. The four winners from that round will then face the teams that dropped down from the Upper Quarterfinals in Lower Round 2, also in elimination matches, for a final chance to qualify for the next stage.

Image Credit: HLTV

IEM Cologne 2025: Teams Close Look

Let's take a detailed look at each team participating in Intel Extreme Masters 2025 and playing in Stage 1 soon. I'll write a little more about the truly interesting teams than about the consistently mediocre ones, but I'll touch on them all for the sake of the complete picture.

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Below are the teams listed in the CS2 rankings, from favorites to underdogs.

Well, then, about each team in detail: in all its glory and with all its problems. I may be wrong about expectations, but I based my calculations on the matches that took place earlier this year. Also read our separate text about team changes before IEM Cologne. It may contain key clues to understanding the teams' form.

FaZe

Despite recent roster turbulence, FaZe remains a steady, if unspectacular, presence in the Tier-1 scene. The European mix—anchored by veterans karrigan and rain, with EliGE, frozen, and the returning broky—comes into IEM Cologne 2025 ranked #8 in the world by HLTV. Over the past three months, they’ve recorded a modest 47.4% win rate, reflecting a stretch of middling performances, including a 5th-8th place finish at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. That event saw FaZe play with stand-in s1pme in place of broky; while the results were underwhelming, the team’s level didn’t dip dramatically, speaking to the system and structure in place. Now with broky back, his return is expected to be smooth and largely unnoticeable, reinforcing FaZe’s status as a stable but limited contender. By the way, FaZe leads the TOP-5 of our rating – read more about the best CS2-ranked teams that will play in this tournament. They serve as a textbook example of a lower-end Tier-1 team: experienced, disciplined, and reliable against weaker opposition—but still missing the edge to break into the current elite.

FURIA

FURIA enters IEM Cologne 2025 as a strong Brazilian contender with clear playoff ambitions and the firepower to match. Currently ranked #9 in the world by HLTV with a 57.1% win rate over the past three months, the lineup—led by veterans FalleN, yuurih, and KSCERATO, and bolstered by YEKINDAR and molodoy—has the tools to make a deep run. However, their form has come into question after a surprising quarterfinal loss to fellow Brazilians paiN at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, followed by back-to-back defeats to SAW just days before Cologne. These setbacks raise doubts, but the roster’s ceiling remains high. If they can stabilize, FURIA has both the structure and talent to thrive in Stage 1 and push toward the playoffs.

paiN

paiN arrives at IEM Cologne 2025 in one of the strongest forms in the organization's long Counter-Strike history. A veteran name dating back to the CS 1.6 era, the current roster—led by biguzera, dgt, and the rising star nqz—has climbed to #10 in the HLTV rankings with a notable 3-4th place finish at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, their first-ever Tier-S semifinal. While their form dipped slightly in recent losses to Lynn Vision and 3DMAX, and their win rate sits at 42.9% over the last three months, paiN appears to have reached a competitive peak. Though not favored to go deep in Cologne, they carry realistic hopes of making it past Stage 1 and proving their breakout run in Austin was no fluke.

Astralis

Astralis enters IEM Cologne 2025 as a well-drilled, middle-of-the-pack Tier-1 team. Though far removed from their era of dominance, the Danish core—featuring device, HooXi, stavn, jabbi, and Staehr—remains consistent against lesser opposition. With a 69.2% win rate over the past three months and back-to-back grand final appearances at PGL Astana and FISSURE Playground, Astralis has shown stability, even if their ceiling seems capped. While struggles against elite teams like Spirit persist, their discipline and structure make them a reliable threat in Stage 1, particularly against underdog lineups.

GamerLegion

GamerLegion arrives at IEM Cologne 2025 ranked #13 in the world with a 46.7% win rate over the past three months, continuing a trend of respectable consistency. While they haven’t cracked the elite tier, the European squad—featuring REZ, ztr, Tauson, Kursy, and PR—has shown they rarely drop series to lower-tier teams and often push top-tier opponents to the edge. Their recent campaigns include strong showings at IEM Dallas and IEM Melbourne, with losses coming almost exclusively to top-five teams like Vitality, Spirit, and Falcons. Based on their stability and matchup history, GamerLegion is a strong candidate to reach Stage 2, though expectations beyond that remain cautious.

3DMAX

3DMAX continue their push as a fully French roster, blending experience and firepower with bodyy, Maka, and Lucky at the helm. While their recent results reflect a lack of consistency, the team has shown flashes of strong play against solid opposition. Their structure is still a work in progress, but the commitment to a national core adds a layer of intrigue. It's tough to forecast how deep they can go in Cologne — but their journey, approach, and identity make them a compelling team to keep an eye on.

Virtus.pro

Virtus.pro's roster boasts world-class names like electroNic, Perfecto, and FL1T — a lineup capable of troubling any opponent. Yet despite their firepower and experience, the team has struggled to convert tight games into wins. While their map pool shows promise, recent results suggest that composure in high-stakes moments remains a key weakness. They’re a dangerous team on the rise, but whether they can stay sharp when it matters most is still an open question.

TYLOO

TYLOO enters IEM Cologne 2025 with solid momentum following their convincing victory at FISSURE Playground, where they defeated notable teams including Astralis and 3DMAX. This success provides a strong confidence boost, yet the upcoming clashes against Tier 1 opponents will pose a much sterner challenge. Given their current form and resilience, TYLOO could very well make a deep run and reach the playoffs in Cologne.

Team Liquid

Liquid enters IEM Cologne 2025 amid a clear slump, reflected in their recent 27.3% win rate and a current winless streak. Despite ongoing struggles, the team continues to be competitive and avoid complete collapses, showing resilience in tough matches. With experienced players like NAF and Twistzz leading the roster, Liquid still pose a threat and have the potential to challenge opponents, even if their form remains inconsistent.

MIBR

MIBR arrives at IEM Cologne 2025 in weak form, holding a 43.8% win rate over the last three months and currently without a win streak. Recent losses to Astralis and FaZe highlight their inconsistency, yet their 2-0 victory over Virtus.pro and close games against competitive squads show they retain the potential to upset higher-ranked opponents. Compared to teams like Liquid, MIBR may have more room to surprise despite their struggles.

HEROIC

HEROIC enters IEM Cologne 2025 as a solid example of a Tier-2 team, holding a respectable 66.7% win rate over the past three months. Their recent results show consistent ability to overcome weaker opponents, with wins over teams like TYLOO and FlyQuest, but losses to higher-tier squads such as BIG and Nemiga confirm they rarely surprise as underdogs. This steadiness means they are expected to reliably progress against lower-ranked foes without posing major upset threats.

B8

B8, a young Ukrainian organization, is steadily gaining momentum with a strong 71.4% win rate over the last three months. Their impressive performance at the first stage of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, including notable victories against OG and Wildcard, highlights their growing potential. With an average player age of just 20.8 and solid recent showings, B8 enters the new season highly motivated and with ample room for further development.

Complexity

Complexity, ranked #23 globally with a core that has spent 152 weeks in the top 30, remains a serious opponent capable of surprising results. Despite a modest 44.4% win rate over the last three months, recent victories over BIG and BetBoom show their potential to upset stronger teams. Their experienced roster, averaging 24.3 years old, brings stability and strategic depth, making Complexity a dangerous candidate to advance unexpectedly into the playoffs at IEM Cologne 2025.

BIG

BIG enters IEM Cologne 2025 ranked #25 globally but has struggled recently with a 52.2% win rate over the past three months and back-to-back 1:2 losses to BetBoom and Complexity. Despite a solid win over Heroic, their inconsistent form and several early tournament exits suggest they are poised to fall out in the second round of the first stage. With an experienced roster averaging 24.6 years and 88 weeks in the top 30, BIG still carries potential but currently looks unlikely to advance deeper into the playoffs.

NIP

Ninjas in Pyjamas, ranked #28 globally with a 66.7% win rate over the last three months, remain a legendary name in CS:GO despite being well outside the current top tier. Their recent results show strong performances, including convincing 2:0 wins over BIG and TNL, but also close losses to emerging teams like NAVI Junior and fnatic. While NiP can be a serious threat early on, their inconsistent finishes and lack of top-level breakthroughs this season suggest they will likely struggle to advance beyond the initial rounds at IEM Cologne 2025.

FlyQuest

FlyQuest has lingered around the same competitive level for quite some time, currently ranked #34 globally with a modest 42.9% win rate in the last three months. Their recent results reflect a mixed bag — close 1:2 losses to TYLOO and HEROIC, but also solid wins like 2:0 over SemperFi and Virtus.pro. Despite flashes of promise, the team urgently needs a significant upswing in performance, or they risk fading entirely from the Tier-1 scene as opportunities at majors like IEM Cologne 2025 slip further away.

Which Matches Are Worth Watching?

TYLOO vs Virtus.pro is a perfect way to start the tournament, featuring the recent FISSURE Playground gold medalist. Virtus.pro will be a strong opponent for the Chinese champions, so it will be interesting to see if the winning momentum remains in TYLOO’s roster.

Astralis vs B8 is personally interesting to me—I’m rooting for the Ukrainian team and believe they have a real chance to handle Astralis. A victory over this legendary tag would give them a huge confidence boost, even if Astralis isn’t as influential a team today.

Liquid vs paiN is also an intriguing matchup, pitting a team on the rise against one in losing form. On paper, it’s a clear win for paiN, so this match is interesting from an analytical perspective—will this logical prediction hold true?

FaZe vs BIG is a clear win for FaZe, but it’s still worth watching due to the hype caused by s1mple’s recent presence on their roster. In reality, nothing surprising is expected here—minimal challenges against BIG—but the factor of a star player has already made its impact.

Screenshot: ZyWoO | IEM Cologne 2025 Official Trailer

What to Expect from IEM Cologne 2025?

IEM Cologne 2025 marks the start of a brand-new CS2 season and is the first big tournament after the Austin Major. Expect top teams to bring their A-game, but also keep an eye on fresh faces and rising stars ready to make a splash. With the stakes high and the action fast-paced, it’s the perfect stage for intense battles and surprising upsets!