The stage is set for one of the biggest Pokémon UNITE events of the year. The 2025 Pokémon World Championships are almost here, and UNITE’s top squads have been grinding all season for a shot at the title, and their share of a $500,000 prize pool.
From 15–17 August, Anaheim Arena will host 32 of the best teams from around the globe. Well, it was meant to be 32. Five squads, including China’s Nova Esports and Peru’s INFAMOUS, have dropped out, leaving 27 in the running. But the format’s still the same, and it’s going to be intense.
Participating Team | Image via liquipedia.net
Day One, Group Stage Battles
The tournament kicks off with a group stage, splitting teams into eight groups. Each match is a best-of-three, round-robin style. With some groups now only having three teams, every win (and loss) will carry even more weight. Only the top two from each group will make it through.
Day Two, Knockout Rounds
The remaining 16 teams will clash in a single-elimination bracket. Matches stay best-of-three until we hit the semi-finals, where the pressure ramps up to best-of-five series.
Day Three, The Grand Final
It all comes down to this – two teams battling in a winner-takes-all best-of-five showdown for the title of 2025 Pokémon UNITE World Champions. On top of the trophy and glory, the champs will take home a sweet $100,000. Here’s the full breakdown.
| Place | Prize (USD) |
| 1st | $100,000 |
| 2nd | $70,000 |
| 3rd–4th | $50,000 |
| 5th–8th | $37,500 |
| 9th–16th | $10,000 |
How to Watch
You can catch all the action live on Pokémon’s official Twitch and YouTube channels, with commentary available in multiple languages, from English and Japanese to Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, and more.
#PokemonWorlds is truly a global event 🌎
Tune in at 4:00 PM UTC on August 15-17 for all the #UNITEesports action. Check the graphic for your local time! ⏰#PokemonUNITE pic.twitter.com/Iv2Y1whbuR
— Pokémon UNITE Championship Series (@UniteEsports) August 7, 2025
Time to find out which team will make Anaheim their battlefield – and which will walk away as the very best.
Image Credit: The Pokémon Company