Cloud9 and Team Liquid to Play Against LCK Teams at the 2025 KeSPA Cup

The 2025 KeSPA Cup has just announced its complete lineup of teams, with the surprise inclusion of two LCS powerhouses: Cloud9 and Team Liquid.

Starting December 6th, C9 and TL will get the chance to put their new rosters to the test against some of the best squads in the world, including recent Worlds finalists of T1 and KT Rolster.

Let's take a look at everything there is to know about the South Korean offseason tournament, including the KeSPA Cup 2025 schedule, format, list of teams, and more.

2025 KeSPA Cup Format and Dates

This year's KeSPA Cup will kick off on Saturday, December 6th, and will take place across two stages: the Group Stage and the Knockout Stage. Here's how each of these will work, plus a look at some key dates:

• Group Stage (December 6th-9th):
  • 14 teams split into 3 groups
  • Single round-robin
  • All matches are Bo1
  • Top team from each group advances to the Knockout Stage
  • Second place team from each group advance to a Last Chance Qualifier (December 9th):
    • Single round-robin between the 3 second place teams
    • All matches are Bo3
    • Top team advances to the Knockout Stage
• Knockout Stage (December 11th-14th):
  • Four teams
  • Double-elimination bracket
  • Matches are Bo3, except for the Grand Finals (Bo5)
  • The Grand Finals will crown the 2025 KeSPA Cup Champions on December 14th

A look at the complete KeSPA Cup 2025 schedule. (Credit: KeSPA Cup)

List of Teams

Traditionally, the KeSPA Cup has been an all-LCK brawl. This time around, the tournament is spicing things up with the addition of 4 new invited teams. Let's look at the complete lineup.

LCK Teams:

• Hanwha Life Esports
• Gen.G
• T1
• Dplus KIA
• KT Rolster
• DRX
• DN Freecs
• BNK FEARX
• Nongshim RedForce
• OKSavingsBank BRION

Invited Teams:

• Cloud9
• Team Liquid
• Team Japan
• Team Vietnam

New teams join the fray at the 2025 KeSPA Cup, including Cloud9 and Team Liquid from the LCS. (Credit: KeSPA Cup)

*Japan and Vietnam teams will field All-Stars players from their Asian Games rosters, as well as former legendary national players. Rosters are yet to be confirmed.

Where to Watch: KeSPA Cup on Disney+

With the additions of two LCS teams to the mix, things just got a whole lot more interesting at the 2025 KeSPA Cup. If you're excited to watch Cloud9 and Team Liquid's new rosters in action and see how they measure up against LCK powerhouses like the reigning World Champions, then you should know that the KeSPA Cup 2025 will be exclusively streamed on Disney+.

This means you will need to be subscribed (or have access to a subscribed account) to Disney+ in order to watch this year's tournament unfold. The 2025 KeSPA Cup starts on December 6th, and will be the perfect way to scratch that itch for competitive League of Legends action during the offseason as teams put their 2026 rosters to the test for the very first time!

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Featured image credit: Christian Betancourt/Riot Games

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