The countdown to The International 2025 is officially on! With the dust still settling from the Wandering Waters update, Dota 2’s biggest stage is calling. Best of all? Eight of the world’s top teams have already punched their tickets to Hamburg—and it’s an absolutely stacked lineup!
Direct Invites
Here are all the Dota 2 teams that have secured a direct invite to The International 2025. Each of the teams have rightfully earned their spot after months of nonstop grinding and meta changes, consistently proving their dominance throughout the season.
- Team Liquid
- PARIVISION
- BB Team
- Team Tidebound
- Gaimin Gladiators
- Team Spirit
- Team Falcons
- Tundra Esports
Regional Qualifiers
But there’s still plenty of blood to spill. Eight more Dota 2 teams will fight their way through the Regional Qualifiers—and it’s going to get nasty. Open Qualifiers run from May 31 to Jun. 3 (Jun. 2–5 for China), giving every pubstar and dark horse a shot at TI glory.
The Regional Qualifier schedule is locked in for:
- Eastern Europe + South America: Jun. 4-8
- China + North America: Jun. 9-12
- Southeast Asia + Western Europe: Jun. 13-17
From there, it’s off to Hamburg, Germany. The main event kicks off on Sep. 4 with a five-round Swiss bracket and elimination round, trimming the field down to the final eight. These top teams will advance to the Playoffs at the Barclays Arena, where the true fight for the Aegis begins.
The Playoffs runs from Sep. 11 and will follow a double-elimination bracket format. It culminates in the Grand Finals on Sep. 14, promising a climactic end to Dota 2’s most prestigious event. Here, only one team will walk out with the Aegis. The rest go home empty-handed.
With just over two weeks until the qualifiers begin, the Road to The International is about to get serious. Fans eager to witness the action live can secure their tickets to the Barclays Arena now. The wait’s almost over.
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