After the conclusion of the group stage of the Europe MENA League 2025 — Stage 1, the top six teams will advance to the playoffs, where they will compete for €125,000 in prize money and five slots in the Esports World Cup 2025. Today, we learned what the playoff bracket looks like, and the starting pairs are already intriguing.

Quarterfinals: the first battles for a chance at the EWC

The first playoff match will be between Virtus.pro and MACKO Esports — a clash between teams that finished with the same number of wins (5–4) in the group stage. VP look like the favorites, but MACKO has proven time and again that it can play against the top teams.

The second quarterfinal will be between Team Falcons and Gen.G Esports. The Saudis finished the group stage with an excellent result (6–3), while Gen.G made it to the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. However, the South Korean team has experience and a star-studded lineup, so this match is unlikely to be a walk in the park for the Falcons.

Semifinals: G2 and Secret take the stage

The winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the upper bracket semifinals, where G2 Esports and Team Secret, the two best teams from the group stage, await them. G2 won 8 out of 9 matches, while Secret confidently held on to a spot in the top three. These teams are considered the main contenders for victory in the entire tournament.

Lower bracket: a chance for a comeback

Teams that lose in the upper bracket will have another chance in the lower bracket, which begins on July 21. The decisive matches of the lower bracket will take place the day before the grand final, scheduled for July 22 at 10 p.m.

Europe MENA League 2025 - Stage 1 runs from June 16 to July 24. Teams are competing for a prize pool of 125,000 Euros, as well as 5 spots at the Esports World Cup 2025. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via this link.