For the first time, the Rocket League World Championship hits 20 teams. The 2025 edition runs September 10-14 at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Décines, France, with the 3v3 trophy and the first-ever 1v1 World Championship trophy both on the line. The bigger field means a longer event, a tougher bracket, and at least one upset story we won't see coming.
The format
Worlds uses a GSL play-in bracket for the bottom seeds, feeding into a group stage with the auto-qualified top finishers. From there, the playoff format mirrors the Majors: hybrid elimination bracket, best-of-five through the semifinals, best-of-seven in the Grand Final.
Notable absence: no Swiss stage at Worlds. The group stage replaces it.
The favorites
Karmine Corp (EU)
Birmingham Major champions. EWC 2025 champions. Vatira leads the team in MVP equivalent of every metric we track. They're the consensus favorite and have been since April.
Team Falcons (MENA)
Raleigh Major champions. The only team that has matched Karmine Corp's 2025 output. If Falcons make a Grand Final, MENA could end the year as Rocket League's #1 region for the first time ever.
Gentle Mates (EU)
The most consistent top-4 finisher of the year. No Major win, but no Major without them in the late bracket either.
NRG (NA)
NA's last hope. Atomic, BeastMode, Daniel had a quiet EWC but their Open results have been remarkably consistent. They're the only NA team we'd give a real shot at a deep run.
Dignitas (EU)
Raleigh runners-up. Have absolutely the kind of resume that translates well to an unforgiving Worlds bracket.
Sleeper picks
- Geekay Esports — MENA #2, made the EWC Grand Final, peaking at the right time.
- Team Vitality — Third in EU points, slightly underperforming all year, but capable of a hot LAN.
- FURIA Esports — SAM's #1 seed has been the most stable South American team for over a year. They will make somebody's life difficult.
The 1v1 World Championship
One match has dominated 1v1 discussion all summer: Mawkzy vs Nwpo. The Birmingham winner against the Raleigh winner. France versus Saudi Arabia. The two players who have looked clearly above the rest of their respective regions for most of the year.
Whether the final is actually that matchup depends on the bracket — both will have to win regional play-ins at Worlds before they meet. But the anticipation around that potential 1v1 Grand Final is going to set the tone for the entire event.
What we're watching
- Karmine Corp finally winning Worlds — or not.
- Team Falcons giving MENA its first World Championship.
- NA finally making a Grand Final on any stage.
- Mawkzy vs Nwpo for the inaugural 1v1 Worlds.
- A 20-team field producing a Cinderella story that 16 teams wouldn't have.
Daily recaps go up every night during the event. Be loud.