IESF (International Esports Federation) annually hosts the World Esports Championships (WEC), a multi-sports event featuring a format similar to the “esports Olympics”: athletes represent their countries, there are regional qualifying rounds, and the culmination is the world-class main event. The year 2025 is unique. On the one hand, regional qualifiers are actively underway across various regions and games. At the same time, the status of the 2025 WEC main event remains a matter of debate due to reports of its cancellation. Below is a complete summary of the concept, game titles, format, and what has happened in 2025. Date note: It is currently August 27, 2025 (Western Indonesian Time).
IESF & WEC Overview
National esports organizations from dozens of nations are united by the IESF, a federation. Teams and national rosters from different nations compete in a variety of well-known video games at its main event, the World Esports Championships. The following is the general structure:
- National Qualifiers (conducted by the federation of each nation).
- Regional Qualifiers (Africa, Oceania, Asia, Europe, and Pan-America; some regions are further subdivided: Southeast Asia, Central Asia, etc.).
- Main Event/World Finals (usually held in a single city).
This explanation is consistent with the WEC summary page on the official IESF website.
2025 Status Road Qualifying, Main Event Debated
Latest Reports & Facts
- The qualifiers for 2025 have begun: For instance, the Group Stage of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Asia Qualifier (men’s category) will take place from August 24–28, 2025 (Bo3 round-robin; the top two in each group go to the playoffs). Additionally, a Central Asia qualifier is scheduled for August 24–26, 2025.
- Other regional events: The European Esports Championship 2025, which is a step toward the WEC, is being held by the IESF in Europe. It will be held from July 9–13, 2025, in Pristina, Kosovo, and will feature games like Dota 2 and CS2.
- The primary topic of discussion at the 2025 WEC is: The 2025 WEC has been canceled, according to CS2 media outlet Dust2.us, which cited geopolitical constraints and the original plan for Ukraine. The bidding procedure for the 2025/2026 host event was also made public by the IESF in May 2025, suggesting some dynamic confirmation and decision-making. In summary, the 2025 WEC summit is uncertain.
Official Game Titles for the 2025 Season
The 2025 IESF season features the five most popular titles in the WEC ecosystem:
- Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Dota 2
- eFootball™ series
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
- PUBG Mobile
European Gaming reports this list as the “official game titles for the 2025 IESF season.
Match Format & Qualification Flow
National Trials
- To choose the roster that will compete in the IESF regional qualifiers, each nation usually hosts a national selection or championship.
- An illustration of a pattern (derived from the federation calendar and national federation announcements): national competition → national team trials → the regional qualifiers’ official roster.
Regional Qualifiers
The general format varies per game/region, but the general pattern is:
- Group Stage: round-robin; Bo3 (best-of-three) matches for MLBB; points earned determine which of the top teams advances to the playoffs.
- Playoffs: single-elimination or double-elimination; mostly Bo3 matches, sometimes Bo5 grand finals (depending on the ruleset). Concrete example for 2025
- MLBB Asia Qualifier (Men): Group Stage August 24-28, 2025, single round-robin, Bo3; top two/group advance to the playoffs. Central Asia also runs August 24–26, 2025.
World Finals
- Typically brings together the best teams/athletes from each region to compete for the title of world champion.
- General structure: Group Stage → Playoffs → Grand Final (Bo3/Bo5 depending on the title).
- 2025: As mentioned above, the status of the World Finals is reportedly uncertain; stay tuned for official updates.
Game Explanation (Gameplay & Match Format) IESF World Esports
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2).
- Genre: Tactical FPS 5v5.
- Objective: Terrorist (T) team plants/protects the bomb; Counter-Terrorist (CT) team prevents/defuses it.
Competitive format:
- Official map pool (e.g., Mirage, Nuke, Inferno, etc.; list subject to change based on Valve/tournament updates).
- Team economy: Purchase weapons, grenades, and armor; money management per round determines momentum. In IESF: Countries field 5-player lineups. Matches are typically Bo1/Bo3 (Bo3 is more common in playoffs).
Dota 2
- Genre: Hero-based 5v5 MOBA.
- Objective: Destroy the opponent’s Ancient.
Competitive format:
- Drafting (Captain’s Mode) is key-ban/pick heroes, counter-draft, and role synergy (positions 1–5).
- Macro & micro: map control, objectives (Tower, Roshan), power spike items/heroes. In IESF, National teams are 5 players; matches are often Bo3 to maintain fairness (teams have the opportunity to adapt their strategies).
eFootball™ series
- Genre: Soccer simulation (1v1/3v3 depending on event regulations).
- Objective: Score more goals than your opponent within the match time.
Competitive format:
- Tactics and formations are crucial: in-game club/country selection follows regulations.
- Tie-breaker: extra time/penalty shootout according to tournament rules. In IESF, Country representatives are often single players or duos: match formats can be Bo3.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
- Genre: 5v5 mobile MOBA.
- Objective: Destroy the opponent’s base (Nexus/Turret Core).
Competitive format:
- Draft picks (bans/picks) determine hero composition-jungler, roamer, EXP lane, gold lane, mid.
- Objectives: Turtle/Lord, lane control, fast rotation.
- At IESF 2025: Asia Qualifier (Men): August 24-28, 2025, single round-robin group stage, Bo3, top two per group advance; Bo3 playoffs. There will also be a Central Asia Qualifier (August 24-26, 2025). Many matches will be broadcast live (YouTube/IG).
PUBG Mobile
- Genre: Battle Royale (4-person squad).
- Objective: Last team standing on a large map; points from placement and eliminations.
Competitive format:
- Several maps (Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, depending on the ruleset).
- A points system per round determines the daily/final standings. In Europe 2025, there will be a European Esports Championship 2025 (Qualifier B-Tier) for PUBG Mobile in Europe as part of the WEC track.
2025 Schedule & Highlights That Already Happened
July 9-13, 2025 – European Esports Championship 2025 (Pristina, Kosovo): part of the IESF circuit for Europe; featuring titles such as CS2 & Dota 2, as well as PUBG Mobile (qualifiers).
August 24-28, 2025 – MLBB Asia Qualifier (Group Stage, men): Bo3 round-robin; top two of each group advance to playoffs; live coverage available. August 24-26, 2025 -MLBB Central Asia Qualifier.
Regarding the 2025 World Finals, Dust2.us is reporting its cancellation; no final clarification has been released on official channels that could definitively close the debate as of August 27, 2025. Monitor the IESF website.
The Difference Between IESF and Esports World Cup
IESF WEC = inter-country tournament (athletes represent their countries). Esports World Cup (EWC) Riyadh = inter-club/pro organization tournament (Team Liquid) with a large prize pool, organized by different organizers (EWC Foundation/ESL FACEIT Group) and not by national federations. Many people often confuse the two because they are both “big events of 2025.”
How to Watch & Follow Results
- Official/Partner Streaming: Many IESF qualifiers are streamed via official/partner region YouTube and Instagram (MLBB Asia Qualifier streams group matches).
- Bracket & Format Tracking: Liquipedia is the community’s most frequently updated resource for schedules, formats, and brackets per title/region. Check the WEC 2025 page for each title/region.
- Official Federation Info: iesf.org contains federation announcements; some updates also come out via the official IESF Instagram for the qualification calendar.
FAQ about IESF World Esports Championships 2025
1. What are the IESF World Esports Championships (WEC)?
The IESF WEC is an international esports tournament that brings together national teams from various countries. Unlike professional club tournaments, here players represent their countries through official national federations.
2. Will the IESF WEC 2025 take place?
The 2025 regional qualifiers (such as the MLBB Asia Qualifier and the European Esports Championship) are already underway. However, several media outlets have reported that the 2025 World Finals have been canceled. This means that this year’s focus will be more on regional qualifiers.
3. How can I watch IESF 2025?
Many IESF qualifying matches are streamed via the official YouTube channel, the federation’s Instagram, and partner streaming platforms. You can also follow the latest schedule and brackets on Liquipedia.
