Overwatch 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup: Tournament Details and Favorites

Coordinated plays, precise Ultimates, and top-tier tactics. That’s what you’ll witness in the Overwatch Champions Series at the 2025 Esports World Cup, featuring thrilling matches from July 31 to August 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bringing together the 16 best Overwatch 2 teams today — including reigning champions Crazy Raccoon and powerhouses like Team Falcons, T1, and Team Liquid — the OWS promises epic showdowns at the Qiddiya Arena. The pioneer of Hero Shooters is set to deliver breathtaking moments with iconic heroes, strategic bans, and legendary rivalries!

Before placing your bets and backing your favorites, check out our full guide below. We’ll cover the tournament format, participating teams, top contenders, and tips on where to watch and bet. Keep reading to discover everything about Overwatch 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup!

Overwatch 2 Schedule at the 2025 Esports World Cup

The Overwatch 2 championship at the EWC 2025 will span just four days. The Group Stage will feature Upper Bracket matches on July 31 and wrap up with Lower Bracket clashes on August 1. The Playoffs will then follow, with the Quarterfinals on August 2 and the Semifinals, Third Place Match, and Grand Final on August 3.

Stay tuned to the Overwatch page on the Esports World Cup’s website to view all matchups and track real-time results.

Overwatch 2 Tournament Format at the 2025 Esports World Cup

Following its traditional structure, the Overwatch Series Mid-Season Championship will include 16 qualified teams from seven regions: NA, EMEA, China, Korea, Japan, Pacific, and LATAM. In addition, the Last Chance Qualifier will grant a Wildcard entry to the tournament.

It’s worth noting that Activision Blizzard enforces Hero Bans in the competitive scene, preventing certain characters from being used — each ban being voted on by the teams. At the OWC, one hero per team will be banned on each map.

During the Group Stage, the 16 organizations will be split into four groups of four and play in a double-elimination format. This means teams that lose their first match will get a second chance to qualify for the Playoffs.

Initial matchups will be played as Best-of-Two (Bo2), with teams competing for a spot in the Upper Bracket final — after which the format switches to Best-of-Three (Bo3).

On the next day, the loser of the Upper Bracket final will face the winner of a match between the two debut losers for the final Lower Bracket spot.

With the eight surviving teams, the Playoffs move to a Single Elimination format. That means any loss results in elimination. The Bo3 format will be used in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, with the first team to secure three map wins advancing.

Things change in the Grand Final, which increases the number of required wins: it will be a Best-of-Four (Bo4). There will also be a Third Place Match played between the two Semifinal losers.

Overwatch 2 Prize Pool at the 2025 Esports World Cup

The Overwatch competition at the Esports World Cup will feature a total prize pool of USD 1 million, distributed among all participating teams — ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 400,000 depending on performance.

Teams eliminated in their first Lower Bracket match will receive the minimum of USD 10,000. Those knocked out in the battle for the second group slot will earn USD 20,000. Quarterfinal losers will take home USD 35,000.

Fourth place will earn USD 60,000, while third will get USD 100,000. The runner-up will receive USD 180,000, and the champion will walk away with a USD 400,000 check.

Club Championship Points in Overwatch 2

If you’ve been following our EWC 2025 coverage, this will sound familiar: the event features a Club Championship — a global ranking where teams earn points based on their performance across all tournaments, with a shot at an even bigger cash prize!

To earn points in Overwatch 2, teams must reach the Playoffs. Teams placing fifth to eighth receive 200 points, fourth place gets 300, third takes 500, the runner-up earns 750, and the tournament winner scores a massive 1,000 points!

Which Teams Will Compete in Overwatch 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup?

We already know that the official Overwatch 2 stage at the 2025 Esports World Cup (Mid-Season Championship) will feature 16 teams that secured their spots through intense regional qualifiers. But who exactly are these top-tier squads? Who should you bet on? Here are the main confirmed teams:

Asia

• Crazy Raccoon: Current Champions Clash winners, entering the tournament with momentum after defeating Team Falcons 4–2 in the final.
• Team Falcons: World runner-up and a dominant semifinalist in 2024, a regional powerhouse.
• T1: Making a big return to the competitive scene, aiming to shake up the tournament.
• ZETA Division: A solid presence in the region, ready to surprise.

North America

• Team Liquid: An iconic name in eSports, making a strong comeback.
• Spacestation Gaming: A strong contender with international experience.
• Geekay Esports: Qualified through OWCS NA and showing strong results in the 2025 season.

EMEA / Other Regions

• Gen.G, Twisted Minds, and Virtus.pro: Forming the core of the European presence in OWCS 2025, all OWCS Partners and ready to shine.
• AG.AL, The Gatos Guapos, Al Qadsiah Esports, VARREL, Team CC, Weibo Gaming, ROC Esports: Other qualified teams from OWCS Stage 2, representing Asia, the Middle East, and China.

Curious to know who will come out on top? Check out our predictions and betting tips below. May the best teamfight win!

Favorites to Win Overwatch 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup

Overwatch 2 at EWC 2025 is already attracting the attention of bettors, and the odds on Blaze are giving us clues as to who might lift the trophy in this historic edition. Below are the top favorites based on the latest tournament odds.

Top Title Contenders

According to Blaze’s odds, Crazy Raccoon is the frontrunner with 2.0 odds to win it all, riding high from their Champions Clash victory. Close behind are the ever-consistent Team Falcons at 3.0, and Gen.G at 3.5 — both considered regional powerhouses.

Teams like Al Qadsiah (6.5), All Gamers Global (8.0), and Weibo Gaming (8.0) are considered “second tier” but still have real chances to surprise thanks to individual talent and player experience. Meanwhile, teams such as Virtus.pro (12.0) and Team Liquid (18.0) are seen as underdogs capable of shaking things up with major upsets.

Finals Prospects

In the odds for making the final, Crazy Raccoon once again leads projections with 1.25 odds, followed by Team Falcons (1.5) and T1 (1.75). Al Qadsiah (3.25) and Weibo Gaming (4.0) are also well-positioned to fight for a spot in the final showdown.

Expect high-intensity matchups, with every map potentially deciding a team’s fate. Ready to follow along and lock in your picks? Here’s how to watch Overwatch at EWC 2025.

Where to Watch Overwatch 2 at the 2025 Esports World Cup

Want to catch every ultimate and pixel-perfect play? The Overwatch Champions Series matches at the 2025 Esports World Cup will be streamed live for free across several platforms, including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch. The event runs from July 31 to August 3 (Group Stage + Playoffs).

Live broadcasts on YouTube and Twitch offer in-game rewards for viewers, including sprays, skins, and exclusive items. Keep an eye out for those drops!

Bet on Overwatch at Blaze!

Now that you’re fully up to speed on the Overwatch tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup, how about making your experience even more thrilling? Blaze is your go-to platform to place bets on the matchups and test your intuition while watching every map and strategic play of the Overwatch Champions Series unfold!

Bet on the team you believe will land the perfect ultimate, turn around a losing match, or dominate objectives with highlight-reel plays. Blaze offers updated odds, real-time betting options, and the convenience you need to enjoy every showdown with maximum excitement.

But a word of caution: don’t forget to check out our eSports betting guide to learn how to place your bets responsibly and wisely. After all, betting is a form of entertainment—not an investment or source of income. Never use money you can’t afford to lose, and make sure to study the data and understand all the risks involved before betting.

Ready to feel the thrill of predicting that game-changing ability combo and cheer like never before? Bet on Overwatch 2 at the Esports World Cup at Blaze and good luck!