The team set to conquer the Crossfire league this summer will be decided soon.

Smilegate announced on the 19th that the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 2025) Crossfire division has officially kicked off. Hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the EWC 2025 stands as the world's largest esports spectacle. Sixteen elite teams, each having conquered their respective regional leagues, are currently battling it out for a staggering total prize pool of $2 million.

Running until the 23rd, the EWC 2025 Crossfire division features 16 squads selected from five major regions: China, Brazil, Vietnam, Europe/Middle East/North Africa (EUMENA), and the Philippines. Expect the group stages to be nothing short of blistering, as global powerhouses clash in long-awaited regional rivalries and grudge matches from previous seasons.

Leading the charge from China, the 2024 CFS Grand Final champions Evolution Power Gaming, along with legacy giants AG.AL and BaiSha Gaming, are all eyeing the throne. Over in the Brazilian league, AL Qadsiah (formerly Vasco)—who boast a CFS runner-up finish—and Team Liquid, featuring GOKEN, one of the world's most feared snipers, are set to make their mark. Keep a close eye on Brazil’s Natus Vincere; despite this being the first international appearance for the team, the sheer individual talent of Natus Vincere makes the squad the ultimate dark horse of the tournament.

The Vietnamese champions, Team Falcons, are looking to leverage the experience gained from their victory at last year's CFS Summer Championship to climb back to the top. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Team Stallions (formerly UBEC) have already turned heads. Despite Team Stallions being the youngest squad in the competition, the team famously dismantled the Season 25 Chinese Crossfire Pro League winners, KINGZERO, with a clean 2-0 sweep at the Asia Champions League (ACL).

For fans tuning in from across the globe, the EWC 2025 Crossfire matches are being broadcast in four languages—English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Portuguese. You can catch the action live across various platforms including YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, TikTok, DouYu, and Huya.