IEM Katowice 2025 – Teams, Schedule & Format

It’s that time of the year again. IEM Katowice 2025 is just around the corner, bringing Counter-Strike back to Poland’s Spodek Arena for the chance to write history. The cool $1,250,000 prize pool up for grabs isn’t too shabby, either, with the event running from January 29th to February 9th. Only the best CS2 teams are in with a shot of victory – here’s all you need to know about IEM Katowice 2025!

Watch IEM Katowice 2025 Live:

You can catch all of the action at IEM Katowice 2025 by heading to the official ESL Twitch stream, found below.

IEM Katowice 2025 Format & Teams

If you watched IEM Katowice last year, then the format will come as no surprise to you. We kick off the Play-In, where 16 teams enter into the following format:

Then, we head to the second stage, which uses this format:
  • 2 x 8-team Double-Elimination brackets
  • All matches are best-of-three
  • Top 3 of each group advance to Playoffs
  • Group winners advance to the Semifinals
  • Group runners-up advance to Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
  • Group 3rd place teams advance to Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds

Afterward, there is the Playoffs, where players get to make themselves legends.

  • 6 team Single-Elimination bracket
  • Quarterfinals and Semifinals best-of-three
  • Grand Final is best-of-five

IEM Katowice 2025 Teams

IEM Katowice 2025 sees 24 teams enter, including returning holders from Katowice 2024 and current Major champions, Spirit. Each team will battle it out to be crowned the kings (or, in Imperial Fe’s case, queens) of Counter-Strike. These are the teams heading to Poland, with eight already invited directly to Stage 2 as per the format.

IEM Katowice 2025

Credit: ESL

All invites have been made via Valve Regional Standings as of January 6th, 2025.

IEM Katowice 2025 Predictions

Coming into 2025, the Counter-Strike scene is in a really weird place. There have been tons of CS2 roster changes over the holiday period, so we might see tons of teething issues across the top teams. That’s why we have to look at the teams who didn’t make changes as favorites. At the top, that stands as Team Spirit, NAVI, and MOUZ. If the eventual winner doesn’t come from one of those three, it would be a big surprise.

As for underdogs – look to the top teams who did make changes. Teams like Vitality, FaZe Clan, and Team Liquid. There’s always the distinct chance these rosters click far quicker than expected, allowing for an incredible honeymoon period that leads to victory at IEM Katowice 2025.