StrafeStrafe Esports
MSI 2025 is here!! Format, Schedule, Teams, Opening Matchups and More

MSI 2025 is here!! Format, Schedule, Teams, Opening Matchups and More

League of Legends

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

17 Jun, 2025, 15:28

|

Last updated: 22 Jun, 2025, 16:38

Top-tier League of Legends action returns to the international stage once more at this year's Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Ten of the best teams from all over the world will converge in Vancouver, Canada, for a chance to come away with the second international trophy of the year when MSI 2025 kicks off on Friday, June 27th.

Let's go ahead and take a look at everything there is to know about MSI 2025, from the format and schedule, to the opening matchups.

MSI 2025 Banner
Credit: Riot Games

Format

The second international tournament of the year will take place across two stages: the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage. Here's how each of these will work:

Play-In Stage:

  • Features #2 seeds from the LEC, LPL, and LCP + the #1 seed from the LTA South
  • Double-elimination bracket
  • All matches are Bo5
  • Fearless Draft throughout
  • Top 2 teams qualify for the Bracket Stage

Bracket Stage:

  • Remaining 8 teams
  • Double-elimination bracket
  • All matches are Bo5
  • Fearless Draft throughout
  • Top 2 regions at MSI earn an additional seed for Worlds 2025
  • MSI winner qualifies to Worlds 2025

For a closer look at the teams that make up each stage of MSI 2025, as well as the biggest missing stars from the tournament, make sure to check our complete list of teams attending the event.

MSI 2025 teams
The complete lineup of teams that make up MSI 2025! (Credit: Riot Games)

Schedule

All of the MSI action will kick off on June 27th with the start of the Play-In Stage! Here's a closer look at the schedule and the stellar opening matchups that await us:

  • The Play-In Stage will take place across June 27th, 28th, and 29th (Friday-Sunday)
  • The Bracket Stage begins on Tuesday, July 1st
  • Our MSI 2025 Grand Finals will crown the champions on Saturday, July 12th
  • June 30th and July 6th are dark days (no games played)
  • All matches will begin at 12 pm PT / 9 pm CET

Opening Matches

Bracket Stage Draw

The Bracket Stage draw will take place immediately after the conclusion of the Play-In Stage on June 29th. This draw will match teams according to tiers, which are based on each region's standings at First Stand 2025. The tiers ahead of the Bracket Stage draw will look like this:

Note: Teams from the same region must be placed on opposite sides of the bracket.

If you would like to attend the event in person at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, make sure to check out our complete guide to MSI 2025 tickets and venue.

New MSI HUD!

Just like First Stand did earlier in the year, MSI 2025 will use a new and improved HUD aimed at improving viewer experience. Though it will be similar to the one used at the first international tournament of the year, this new HUD will offer an improved layout to ensure that all important information is immediately apparent on-screen.

MSI 2025 HUD
A look at the new and improved HUD to debut at MSI 2025. (Credit: Riot Games)

MSI 2025 Drops

By catching the MSI action live, you will have the chance to earn exclusive drops like emotes and 2025 Esports Capsules! Here's the list of drops that will be on the line:

  • Opening day: "I didn't start the fire!" Emote
  • Start of Bracket Stage: “Casual Flex” Emote
  • Upper Bracket Finals: “Always Hip” Emote
  • Final day of Bracket Stage: “ONWARD!” Emote
  • Finals Day:
    • “POWERPLAY!” Emote
    • “All Wrapped Up” Emote
    • “FED.”Emote
  • 2025 Esports Capsules will drop live during special occurrences such as Pentakills, Baron steals, Dragon steals, Atakhan steals, and Silver Scrapes moments (Game 5 of a series)

To be eligible to earn these rewards, watch MSI 2025 games live on the LoLEsports website while logged in with your Riot ID!

MSI 2025 drops
Earn emotes by watching MSI 2025 live on the LoLEsports website! (Credit: Riot Games)

Where to Watch

The start of MSI 2025 is just around the corner, and you will not want to miss the very best League of Legends teams in the world go toe-to-toe on the international stage once more. You can catch the MSI games live on the official Riot Games event Twitch and YouTube channels, or on the LoLEsports website itself.

If you'd like to watch the games along with your favorite streamers instead, more than 75 co-streamers will also follow MSI on their respective channels.

Whichever way you wish to tune in to the action, make sure you are there when MSI 2025 kicks off on Friday, June 27th!

MSI 2025 Ignite the Fire Within
Under the slogan of "Ignite the Fire Within", MSI is back to deliver top-tier League of Legends to our screens! (Credit: Riot Games)

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Read more:

New League of Legends Champion: Yunara Abilities, Gameplay, and Release Date

[UPDATED] All Teams Qualified to MSI 2025

Zeri is Back for MSI! Winners and Losers of League of Legends Patch 25.12

Latest news

Dplus KIA to be Sold Amid Financial Turbulence

Dplus KIA to be Sold Amid Financial Turbulence

Dplus KIA have announced the organization is in the middle of a sale process as the club has "reached a point where it needs even greater capability and support to grow to the next level." Growing operational costs in esports and recent reports surfacing regarding unpaid wages at Dplus all seem to indicate that the move will be in the best interest of everyone involved, including players and fans of the organization.
21h
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

LØS Sends LYON Packing From EWC 2026

The Esports World Cup 2026 League of Legends group stage just delivered a rough gut punch for LYON. The LCS side, fresh off one of the best runs of its history, was swept 2-0 by MIBR.LOS in Group D, ending its run at the Esports World Cup 2026 before it even had a chance to build momentum.
15 Jul
Thales Costa

Team Vitality CEO Neo: "For Us to be a Global Leader Means Being a Contender at EWC"

Team Vitality remains one of the most influential and well-known esports organizations to date. The Paris-based org fields over 20 esports teams in various esports, though their immensely impressive results in Counter-Strike take center stage.  Being one of the organizations present at Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, we managed to speak with Fabien "Neo" Devide, Co-Founder and CEO of the Hive, just after an interview with Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, at the opening press conference at EWC. Neo provided a ton of insight into the organization's participation at this year's edition of EWC in Paris. He expressed his desire for the org to perform to the highest standards, but also highlighted that rivalry is key to grow the ecosystem. Additionally, Neo gave strong opinions on the growth of mobile esports following last year's Vitality's takeover and merger with Indonesian side Bigetron, stressing the need for innovation and following ideas in the east, as much as the west.
15 Jul
Naim "EnKay" Rosinski

Mages in the Bot Lane at MSI 2026: Threat or Hype?

Mages showing up in place of traditional AD carry champions in the Bot Lane is not necessarily a new phenomenon, but the fact that so many of them were picked at MSI 2026 has been turning a lot of heads recently. Are mage champions in the Bot Lane really a problem, though? Let's dive a little deeper to find out more.
15 Jul
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Mike McCabe COO of EWC Foundation: "The Home Is Always Going to Be Riyadh"

The Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) had its grand launch on July 8, commemorating the official start of the event with an opening press conference at the Hotel de Ville in the heart of Paris. With many speakers kicking off the event, like the CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert, Emmanuel Grégoire, the mayor of Paris, and others, taking center stage.  Following an opening ceremony with multiple speakers, media were given the opportunity to chat with representatives of the Esports World Cup Foundation, game publishers, or even reps of prolific esports organizations such as Team Vitality. We managed to speak with Mike McCabe, the COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
14 Jul
Naim "EnKay" Rosinski

League of Legends Classic: Everything You Need to Know

League Classic is the newest game mode coming to League of Legends. Set to launch on July 29 with the advent of Season 3, the mode is Riot Games’ attempt to recapture the feel of playing League of Legends in the early years, complete with nostalgia, long-forgotten dark technologies, and old-school accoutrements like the rune system, masteries, items, and summoner spells. Let’s check it out.
14 Jul
Foo Zen-Wen

LoL Esports World Cup 2026: Teams, Schedule, Format, and More

Just days after the conclusion of MSI, it's time to turn our heads over to the League of Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026. A total of 16 teams will head to Paris to compete for the bigger piece of the $2,000,000 prize pool, but only one will come away with the trophy.
13 Jul
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match