Who will make the playoffs of IEM Cologne 2025?

Counter-Strike is full of surprises. Predictions can get thrown out the window at any moment, but that does not mean we cannot have fun giving it a try! In this article, we'll attempt to anticipate which six teams will battle it out in LANXESS during the playoffs.

Our playoffs prediction

Vitality, Kings of CS

Let's get this one out of the way, shall we? Based on the litteral domination that Vitality displayed in 2025 and up until today, this roster will enter every single competition as heavy favorites. IEM Cologne is no exception. The best team in the world is yet to lose a BO3 in more than 34 series, breath taking.

Now there is an element of doubt which makes this whole event that much more interesting. Cologne signals the end of the summer break. As all teams took a step back to breathe and recharge, Vitality were undoubtedly at the top. How have they handled the break? How easy will it be for them to put pedal to the metal from the first match onwards? The competition at IEM will be of the highest level and it isn't out of the question to see Vitality caught off guard at the very beginning. Nevertheless, playoffs is a must.

MOUZ, the consistency

Aside from PGL Cluj-Napoca, trophies have evaded the MOUZ roster. While that fact genuinely tarnishes the season they've been able to put together, it should not distract us from the phenomenal consistency they were able to display this year. From Katowice onwards, MOUZ have never missed the playoffs of an event they attended. Six berths in a row is a feat to be proud of.

Facing Liquid in their opening match-up of the group B, a victory would send MOUZ against the winner of the FaZe/NaVi clash. Either of these squads would be absolutely manageable for MOUZ, as they have on multiple occasions in the past. As it often is the case with the IEM format, the real challenge will be to avoid the banana peel in the first game. Coming up against a warmed up Liquid squad which played Stage 1, MOUZ have to make sure their head is in the game from the get go. If they survive the opener, the playoffs will await with open arms.

Falcons, kyousuke's hype

The hottest prospect of 2025 is lined up to kickstart his career at the professional level. Maxim 'kyousuke' Lukin, freshly brought to Falcons from Spirit academy, has been the top of the talk for the entire summer. Replacing Magisk in Falcons, experts, pundits and community have surreal expectations for the youngster. Some already put in the donk, mONESY and ZywOo category, which sounds insane considering how little we have seen of him at the elite level.

At face value, kyousuke is supposed to bring a clear uptick in firepower. He's a fragger. Tactically speaking, a lot of people wonder how well accomodated he will be in Falcons. Roles will have to be filled, as Magisk mainly played the anchor positions on the CT side. Those generally do not offer a ton of room for proactivity and risk taking. Whether Falcons have tinkered with their system a tad, to allow their young star more freedom, remains to be seen. In any case, the triumvirate of NiKo, m0NESY and kyousuke is rumored to be unstoppable already.

Spirit, the renewal

The first half of the year left Spirit wanting. Only one (quasi) significant trophy on the cabinet does not match with the grandeur of the sh1ro and donk duo. Then again, PGL Astana did not field all the best teams in the world. Realistically speaking, Spirit were forced out of the conversation of "the potential champions" at the events they attended. So much so that they decided to bench magixx, one of the longest standing member, after more than six years of activity in their jersey.

Akin to a lot of professional teams nowadays, Spirit have gambled on the promise of tomorrow. Signing Ivan 'zweih' Gogin, after a year in Nemiga, remains a risk of sort. The 17-years old impressed at the Austin Major, that much is certain. Whether or not he'll be capable of replicating that level under the type of pressure an organization like Spirit brings is yet to be seen. In any case, armed with the renewed hunger of a fresh roster, Spirit should have no trouble making it to the playoffs.

The MongolZ, inevitable

In today's HLTV ranking, The MongolZ appear at the third place. How could we possibly fade one of the most improved squad in Counter-Strike in the last twelve to eighteen months? Their evolution and improvement have been clearly undeniable.

For an instant, even if only a mere hour, The MongolZ had everyone in the CS scene at the edge of their seat in Austin. As they took the lead against Vitality, 1-0, in the Grand Final, we all wondered; Are we witnessing history? Unfortunately, as history would show, Vitality came back to life in the second map and left no doubt as to the superiority of their team. Nevertheless, for The MongolZ and the entire Asian scene, a second place at a Major event was historical. It also was significant because most people saw this result as the logical next step of a steady climb that Senzu and his squad had gone on for months. It felt legitimate. Today, their status has changed. We do not describe them as dark horses anymore. They belong to the top dogs. Playoffs have to be reached.

FaZe, believing again

The decline of FaZe was tough to witness during the first part of the year. It went downhill so fast that the s1mple gambit had to be pulled off for Austin, with a certain degree of success, yet not enough to justify the solidification of that roster. After Austin, broky was brought back into the starting line-up. On social media, in an interview, karrigan mentionned that sometimes a little "punishment" (used that term with levity of course) was necessary to get someone back to their best level.

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Now the sixth position in our list could create debates. A handful of other names could rightfully take FaZe's position. Our argument is based on two factors; pride and hunger. It stands to reason to believe that a roster with players like frozen, rain, EliGE and karrigan cannot possibly be satisfied with the top 7/8 being their ceiling. These players have been champions the past. They won events, majors and even dominated the scene. The first half of 2025 was but a shadow of that past glory. Hunger because we have to assume broky comes back in with a overcharged battery. Hopefully being put on the bench activated an inner alarm for him to once again deliver.

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_{Photos and screenshots via HLTV.org}

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