schedule, format, teams, how to watch

The IEM Melbourne 2025 event is on the horizon. For the first time since IEM Sydney in 2023, 16 of the best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) teams in the world will head down under. Organised by ESL FACEIT Group, the competition takes place at the Rod Laver Arena from April 21st to 27th, 2025.

Teams competing at the event were determined based on the February 3rd global Valve Regional Standings (VRS), while the other competitors were selected based on their regional VRS position. Here, find everything there is to know about IEM Melbourne 2025, including the schedule and tournament format.

From April 21st to 25th, the 16 teams will compete in the Group Stage. From April 25th to 27th, the live arena matches will take place.

ESL FACEIT Group is yet to reveal the full schedule for IEM Melbourne, as the tournament is still over a month away.

Once the full tournament schedule appears, this page will be updated with the latest information, including the start times for each match.

The tournament will begin with the 16 teams being split into two groups of eight for the Group Stage. Using a double-elimination GSL format, the top three teams from each group will secure a place in the Playoffs.

Winners of the Playoffs will advance to the Semi-Finals — teams which place second will move on to the Quarter-Finals as a high seed, and those which finish in third will secure a place in the Quarter-Finals as a low seed.

The Playoffs will use a single-elimination bracket, with quarter-finals and the semi-finals using a best-of-three series. The Grand Final will be contested over a best-of-five.

Below are the teams competing at IEM Melbourne 2025:

The entire competition will be broadcast on ESL FACEIT Group’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

The event organiser’s A and B streams will play host to full match replays once each day has concluded.