Birmingham gave us our first real read on the 2025 season. A month later, with Split 2 qualifying back in full swing, here's what we think the LAN actually revealed — and what's still genuinely unsettled.
1. Karmine Corp are the team to beat
A 4-0 in a Grand Final isn't an accident. KC didn't just win Birmingham, they dictated it. Vatira's mechanical level remains the highest in the sport, but the underrated story is Itachi and Atow.'s defensive structure — Karmine Corp allowed fewer goals per game across the playoff bracket than any other team in the field.
The biggest open question on this roster has been about closing finals. That question is, for now, answered. There's a new question now: can the rest of EU stress them enough to expose a weakness before Raleigh?
2. The Ultimates aren't a fluke
Cinderella stories in Rocket League historically last one event. The Ultimates have followed Birmingham with a strong Open 4 run and they're sitting in the top 4 of EU points. The team is real. The hard part now is producing a second Major-level performance — which historically is when developmental rosters either step up or regress.
3. NA's gap is real
NRG were the highest-finishing NA team at Birmingham and went out in the top 6. That's the second consecutive Major without an NA Grand Finalist. The depth in EU is now plainly the difference — North America has top-tier individuals, but EU has top-tier rosters, and they're winning the late series.
4. MENA's window is wide open
Team Falcons did Team Falcons things again — a deep run that ended one win short of the Grand Final. With one more international final in the back half of the season, they will have made three of the last four. That's a generational opportunity for MENA. The next step is converting.
5. The 1v1 scene is going to surprise everyone
We had Mawkzy in our pre-Major shortlist, but yanxnz reaching the Grand Final wasn't on most people's radar, and the early-round exits from established 3v3 names suggest the 1v1 World Championship in September is going to be a wide-open event with multiple genuine threats from outside Europe. Watch SAM closely.
Trades, transfers, and movement to watch
We don't expect a wave of roster moves until after Worlds, but a few situations we're tracking:
- NA structural rebuild — at least one of NRG, G2 Stride, or Spacestation will likely shake up their main lineup if NA doesn't make a Worlds final.
- The Ultimates — a roster of this caliber, especially in EU, is going to attract organization-level interest before the off-season.
- Dignitas — strong qualifying performance, but a top-6 ceiling at the Major. If they want to push higher, an addition is realistic.
The watch list heading into Raleigh
- Can Karmine Corp run it back?
- Does Team Falcons finally win one?
- Is there a non-EU/NA upset waiting in the bracket?
- Does NA show up with a genuinely revamped contender?
Raleigh preview drops in late June. See you then.