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Six teams, including all four of the top teams in the globe, have advanced to the bracket round of IEM Cologne’s playoffs at the LANXESS Arena competing for the ultimate shares of the $1,000,000 prize pool.

Qualified Teams and Brackets

Six teams begin their Playoffs journey on Friday, August 1st:

  • Team Vitality 
  • Team Spirit 
  • The MongolZ 
  • MOUZ
  • FURIA 
  • Natus Vincere (NAVI) 

Team Spirit and Team Vitality both finished first in their groups, which automatically qualified them for the semifinals.

The IEM Cologne Playoffs quarterfinals will feature matches between MOUZ, FURIA, The MongolZ, and NAVI. These games are set for August 1st and will be played on the stage in Cologne. You lose? You’re eliminated right away.

On August 2nd, the winners of MOUZ vs. FURIA and MongolZ vs. NAVI will match against Team Vitality and Team Spirit in the semifinals.

The Grand Final of IEM Cologne is scheduled for Monday, August 3.

IEM Cologne 2025 Playoffs Bracket

Image Credit: ESL FACEIT Group

Key Players in the Group Stage

The IEM Cologne 2025 Group Stage saw several incredible individual performances that influenced the playoff picture in addition to some memorable games.

Donk, Spirit’s teenage prodigy, was without a doubt the highlight. Donk maintains his position as the year’s most dominant rifler with a 1.52 rating on seven maps. His steady play and strong entry were crucial in helping Team Spirit advance through a challenging Group Stage bracket.

Interestingly, Kyousuke managed to shine with a 1.39 rating even though Team Falcons had to retire early. Despite the team’s defeat by FURIA and The MongolZ, his performance, particularly during high-pressure situations, attracted attention.

With a 1.32 rating, iM from NAVI was another standout performer, demonstrating the Romanian star’s comeback to form following a relatively rocky first half of the year. iM was one of the tournament’s most valued assets because of his mid-round influence and clutch ability.

Also making waves for Team Spirit was sh1ro, matching iM’s 1.32 rating. His synergy with donk has become the backbone of Team Spirit’s late-round dominance and has many speculating if this could be their tournament to lose.

Team Vitality, already one of the most cohesive lineups this year, showcased their firepower and depth with four of their players making the top ratings list:

  • ZywOo: 1.31 rating (6 maps)
  • mezii: 1.24 rating (6 maps)
  • flameZ: 1.22 rating (6 maps)
  • ropz: 1.21 rating (6 maps)

With four players from Vitality on this list, their teamplay and balance between structure and firepower are clearly paying off. As we head into playoffs, all eyes will be on whether these stars can maintain this level, or if a dark horse will rise.

Faze and Falcons?

Team Falcons and FaZe Clan were unable to guarantee a position in the IEM Cologne 2025 Playoffs.

After losing to The MongolZ 2-0 in the Upper Bracket, Team Falcons’ run came to an end. After Team Spirit Academy acquired talented youngster Kyousuke, expectations were high. The rest of the team struggled, but Kyousuke, the second-highest ranked player in the Group Stage, gave an outstanding performance.

Meanwhile, FaZe Clan failed to live up to the hype. Their tournament journey was cut short by two significant losses against NAVI, first in the Group B Upper Bracket Quarterfinals and then in the Group B Lower Bracket Final.

What to Expect…

Will Vitality Retain Their Throne?
Vitality are heavy favourites, betting odds put them in prime position to win it all. But back-to-back overtime threats like FURIA could test their resolve in the semifinals.

Spirit vs The MongolZ
Donk and Spirit have the form to go toe-to-toe with MongolZ, making their semifinal clash one of the most anticipated matches. We see it going to a decider, with Spirit edging out 2‑1 if their momentum holds.

Underdog Stories?
FURIA and MongolZ both defied expectations in group play, but now face veterans like Vitality and NAVI. FURIA’s fate could rest on molodoy’s AWPing; MongolZ must sustain their drive to reach deep.

Alas, we’re expecting a Team Vitality vs Team Spirit Grand Final on August 3. Vitality’s flawless consistency and Spirit’s explosive rise make this the most compelling finale storyline. We see Vitality winning 3‑1, but a tight final is absolutely possible.