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The battle’s back on, and it’s bigger than ever.

After an explosive showing in 2024, Call of Duty: Warzone is dropping straight back into the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh for 2025. From 6th to 9th August, 21 of the best trio squads from around the globe will battle it out on Rebirth Island, all for a shot at glory and a slice of a juicy $1 million USD prize pool.

Falcons Aim to Defend Their Throne

Last year’s champs, Team Falcons, made up of Biffle, Shifty, and Soka, absolutely cooked the lobby in 2024, walking away with the title and a cool $200,000. Not only did they rack up an eye-watering 137 kills across the finals, but they also went unbeaten in their group stage, a first in Warzone history.

Team Falcons players Biffle, Shifty, and Soka pose for a photo at the Warzone Esports World Cup 2024.

Image Credit: Esports World Cup

Now, they’re back to defend their crown, but the competition’s looking fierce. With teams like 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, Virtus.pro, and a full spread of regional qualifiers from MENA to LATAM, there’s no shortage of hungry challengers looking to knock them off the throne.

Tournament Format: Three Stages, One Winner

The Warzone EWC 2025 sticks to the now-familiar Resurgence Trios mode – meaning non-stop action and very little downtime.

Here’s how it breaks down:

Stage 1 – Group Stage:
21 teams are split into three groups of seven. Each group plays four maps. The top seven teams across all groups go straight to the finals.

Stage 2 – Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ):
The 14 teams who didn’t make it through the groups battle across six matches. Only the top seven from this stage move on.

Stage 3 – The Finals:
14 teams face off in a high-pressure Match Point format. Teams must reach a certain point threshold through kills and placements. Once they do, they enter “match point” status – but to win the tournament, they’ve got to win a match while on match point. Sounds stressful? It is. One win can flip everything.

CODWZ_TournamentBracket EN.png

Warzone Tournament Format | Image Credit: Esports World Cup

Big Names, Global Stage

This year’s lineup includes a mix of returning powerhouses and fresh faces. Keep an eye on:

Team Falcons (Defending Champs)

100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, Virtus.pro (North America)

Ninjas in Pyjamas, Fnatic, ELF, Gentle Mates (Europe)

EVOS Esports, KOI, ARG ON TOP (LATAM and MENA)

WhateverItTakes (APAC)

Participating Teams | Image via esportsworldcup.com

What’s on the Line?

Players are chasing a share of $1,000,000 USD, plus Club Points that contribute to the EWC Club Championship.

Prize Pool Breakdown | Image via liquipedia.net

An MVP award may also be in the mix, worth a bonus $10,000.

When and Where to Watch

Dates: 6th–9th August 2025
Location: EWC Arena 2, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

You can catch all the action live on: