The Cathedral of Counter-Strike: Previewing IEM Cologne 2025

After a full month of silence following the Major, Counter-Strike’s biggest stage is ready to roar again. IEM Cologne 2025 marks CS2’s return to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike, and the timing couldn’t be juicier. Roster moves have reshaped the tier one landscape, with big names making bold plays ahead of the summer swing. For many, Cologne is more than just another S-tier - it’s the first checkpoint in a new chapter. With $1.25 million up for grabs and the legendary Lanxess crowd back in full force, this is where legacies sharpen - or fall apart.

Stage 1: The Gauntlet Begins

Before anyone sets foot in the Cathedral, they’ve got to earn it. IEM Cologne’s opening phase kicks off with a 16-team Play-In Stage, featuring a double elimination BO3 bracket.

Only eight teams will survive to join the tournament’s Legends in the main event. Win your first two matches, and you’re through. Lose once? You drop to the lower bracket and fight for your life. Lose twice? Your summer ends early.

This format has always been a proving ground for dark horses and rebuilds - and with several teams debuting new rosters post-Major, don’t be surprised if a few giants stumble early.

Stage 1 Teams to Watch 👀

The Play-In isn’t just about survival - it’s where the hottest stories start to bubble. Here are four teams worth watching as they battle for a spot in the Cathedral:

🐺 FaZe Clan – Karrigan’s Cologne Reset

FaZe may be a perennial powerhouse, but their Major run was stopped cold by an on-fire Mongolz squad. That loss stung - but don’t expect Karrigan to show up without a new plan. Cologne has always been kind to FaZe, and with time to reset and rework, they’re still one of the scariest lower-bracket threats in CS2.

🔥 FURIA – Fusion is Clicking

The BR+CIS experiment is starting to pay off. FURIA has quietly been stringing together solid results and building real synergy. Will they keep rising or fall back into their inconsistent ways? If they’re firing, they’ve got upset potential against anyone in the field.

🐉 TYLOO – China’s Momentum Builder

Fresh off a win over Astralis at the FISSURE Playground Grand Final, TYLOO is riding serious momentum into Cologne. The Chinese region has been knocking on the door for years, but this feels different. The talent is raw but fearless, and Cologne offers the perfect global stage to make a statement.

🌿 FlyQuest – The JKS Effect

FlyQuest overperformed at the Major but still couldn't make it out of the first stage. Enter Justin "jks" Savage, returning to the lineup with something to prove. His stability and experience could be the glue this roster needs to push through the Play-In and make real noise in front of the Lanxess crowd.

Stage 2 Storylines 👑

Once the dust settles from the Play-In, the real fireworks begin. The top dogs of Counter-Strike enter the Cathedral, and this year’s IEM Cologne has no shortage of drama. New rosters, fresh blood, and one dominant team wearing the crown - but for how much longer?

🐝 Vitality - Can Anyone Stop Them?

Tournament after tournament, Vitality just refuses to lose. With ZywOo at his unkillable best and the team’s system firing on all cylinders, they come into Cologne as the team to beat. But with other rosters retooling specifically to knock them off their perch, the question isn't if someone will catch them - it's when. Cologne might be the first real threat to their streak.

🦅 Team Falcons - Superteam 2.0 Begins Now

The best talent money can buy - and they’re not done yet. Falcons are already stacked, but IEM Cologne marks the debut of kyousuke, the latest prodigy added to this monster lineup. Chemistry questions remain, but on firepower alone, they might be the only team that can trade blows with Vitality over a full series. If it clicks, Cologne could mark a changing of the guard.

🐍 Team Spirit - Risky Reset or Masterstroke?

After their early breakout, Spirit’s journey hit a wall: a wall named Vitality (again) and MOUZ. In response, they made a ruthless move - benching magixx after five years and bringing in 17-year-old zweih, another teenage phenom from the academy pipeline. Cologne will be his trial by fire. It’s a bold bet, and if it pays off, Spirit could be back in trophy talks fast.

🐺 G2 - Rebuilt. Reloaded. Reborn?

When G2 lost NiKo and m0NESY to Falcons, it looked like the end of an era. But what followed turned heads across the scene. In came malbsMd, MATYS, SunPayus, and coach sAw - a totally reshaped squad with raw aim, structure, and aggression. It’s a wildcard team now, but G2 lives for chaos. If they find rhythm early, Cologne could be their proving ground.

The Cathedral Is Calling - Place Your Bets on SBX 🎯

IEM Cologne 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most volatile, high-stakes events in CS2 history. Between major roster shakeups, rising regions, and a dominant Vitality squad wearing a target on their back, every match is a potential storyline. Whether you're backing a rebuilt G2, hoping for a Spirit revival, or betting on the Chinese surge behind TYLOO - Cologne is where reputations are made or broken.