Dota 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup: Format, Dates, and Favorites!

Looking forward to the biggest gaming competition of the year? In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Dota 2 tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup will take place between July 7 and July 18, featuring 16 of the best teams on the planet.

And yes, if you love following the thrilling battles of one of the most iconic names in the esports scene, this competition is for you! With a total prize pool of $3 million and up to 1,000 points for the tournament's Club Championship, the battles are going to be intense on the main stage! We’ve prepared this complete guide with everything you need to know. Let’s dive in!

When will the Dota 2 matches at the Esports World Cup take place?

Dota 2 is back in action at the Esports World Cup — and yes, Valve’s legendary MOBA is returning in full force to the biggest competitive stage on the planet! Featuring 16 of the top organizations from the international scene, the tournament promises epic matches right from the very first days of the event.

Although the Esports World Cup 2025 runs from July 7 to August 24, the Dota 2 thrills will be concentrated between July 7 and July 18, with intense battles in the group stage, elimination rounds, and playoffs. It will be days filled with pure strategy, razor-sharp decisions, and unforgettable comebacks where only the strongest survive.

And it’s not just a one-off appearance: Dota 2 has already cemented itself as one of the staple titles of the competition, reflecting its importance and legacy within the global esports scene.

For fans of chaotic teamfights, historic turnarounds, and plays that go down in history, this is the time to get ready, follow every draft, and cheer with all your heart for your favorite team. The countdown has already begun — get ready for an unmissable Dota 2 journey at the Esports World Cup!

What is the format of the Dota 2 tournament at the Esports World Cup?

The competition format for Dota 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup was designed to deliver excitement from start to finish! It all begins with a round-robin featuring 16 teams, where each team faces the others in pursuit of precious points.

From there, the top 12 advance to an elimination group stage, which will determine who’s truly ready for the ultimate challenge. The top 8 then move on to the playoffs, which will be played in a single-elimination format — lose, and you’re out!

It’s all-out pressure in every match. Only one team will emerge as the champion and lift the trophy as the best Dota 2 team of the 2025 Esports World Cup. With direct showdowns between the biggest powerhouses in the scene, this promises to be one of the fiercest competitions of the year!

Which teams will play in the Dota 2 tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup?

The DOTA 2 competition at the 2025 Esports World Cup brings together 16 of the world’s best teams, representing different regions and qualification systems. The selection was based on performance in the EPT (Esports Performance Tour) ranking, regional championships, and titles won — ensuring the highest level of competition in yet another historic edition of the tournament.

Check out below the qualification paths and the teams that secured their spot in Riyadh:

EPT Ranking

Teams that stood out in the international points circuit:

• BB Team
• Team Spirit
• Team Falcons
• Team Liquid
• Tundra Esports
• Talon
• Aurora Gaming

Regionals and special qualifiers

Teams that secured their spot through tournaments or regional leagues:

• Gaimin Gladiators – Winner of the EWC 2024, enters as defending champion
• Xtreme Gaming – Qualified via ACL
• PVISION – Direct slot through ACL
• Virtus.Pro – Representing the MESWA tournament
• HEROIC – Qualified from South America
• Shopify Rebellion – North America representative
• Execration – Southeast Asia representative
• Natus Vincere – Qualified from Western Europe
• Team Yandex – Qualified from Eastern Europe

With this heavyweight lineup, the competition promises balanced matches, refined strategies, and a true celebration of the best that DOTA 2 has to offer. Get ready to follow the biggest names in the scene in battles that are set to make history at the Esports World Cup!

Where to watch Dota 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup?

Don’t miss a single moment of the 2025 Esports World Cup! Stay on top of every match through the free live broadcast on the event’s official channels on YouTube and Twitch.

Dota 2 Favorites at the 2025 Esports World Cup

The 2025 Esports World Cup for Dota 2 is already exciting fans of Valve’s MOBA, and the betting odds are revealing who the top contenders for the title and the grand final are.

Favorites to Win the Title

According to Blaze odds, Team Spirit stands out as the main favorite to lift the trophy, with odds of 4.5. The Russian team has been maintaining a strong competitive performance and arrives with great momentum to claim the world title.

Right behind them are Team Liquid (5.0) and Gaimin Gladiators (5.5), two European powerhouses that also carry high expectations and have more than enough talent to fight for the championship.

Other strong contenders include Team Falcons (7.0) and BetBoom Team (8.0), who, although slightly lower in the projections, have the potential to surprise with solid campaigns.

Finalists to Watch

When it comes to potential finalists, Team Spirit once again leads the way with odds of 2.3, reinforcing its status as the top candidate for the grand final. Team Liquid (2.6) and Gaimin Gladiators (2.8) are also highly favored to reach the last stage of the tournament.

Team Falcons (3.2) and BetBoom Team (3.5) complete the list of main contenders for the final and promise balanced clashes in the knockout stage.

Other Teams

Teams like Virtus.pro (10.0 for the title, 5.0 for the final) and Tundra Esports (11.0 for the title, 6.0 for the final) appear as underdogs, with lower chances but certainly not to be underestimated—especially in single-elimination matches.

Squads like Heroic, Execration, Natus Vincere, and Cyber Goose have even higher odds and are seen as long shots. If any of these teams advance to the playoffs, every victory will be seen as a major upset.

The group stage of Dota 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup is packed with thrilling matchups, and the odds provide a good glimpse of how the competitive landscape is shaping up. But as always in esports, surprises can happen — and anyone can shine once the game begins.

Bet on DOTA 2 at Blaze!

Now that you’re up to speed on everything about DOTA 2 at the Esports World Cup, how about making the excitement even greater? Don’t forget to check out our complete guide to esports betting with all the tips you need!

At Blaze, you can bet on DOTA 2 matches with ease and security — always remembering: betting is a form of entertainment, not an investment. Bet responsibly, set your limits, and enjoy the experience without going overboard.

Want to cheer for every play, root for epic rampages, and even test your intuition on the competitive scene? Then check out the DOTA 2 page at Blaze and good luck!