Update as of July 9, 10:46 CEST: ESL has released an updated list of participants for ESL Pro League Season 22. Some teams have confirmed their participation, while others have declined the invitation. Specifically, among those invited to the closed qualifiers, Wildcard, paiN, TYLOO, MIBR, and several other rosters have dropped out, giving their spots to the next teams in the VRS rankings. The list of teams invited to the closed qualifiers has been updated.

Original News:

ESL Pro League Season 22 promises to be one of the most anticipated tournaments of the fall — ESL has announced the lineup of participants. The tournament will take place from September 27 to October 12 in a studio format in Stockholm, Sweden. Although the event is not arena-based, the battle for $1,000,000 and the prestige of the EPL title makes it a must-watch.

ESL clarified that not all teams accepted their invitations to ESL Pro League Season 22. In case of refusal, the slot will go to the next team in the VRS rankings. Additionally, each invitation was based on the roster recorded in the VRS — the final deadline for submitting the final roster is set for September 13, 2025.

Participants and Tournament Format

The tournament will run from September 27 to October 12 at the ESL studio in Stockholm. A total of 24 teams will participate:

• Starting in the second stage: Vitality, MOUZ, Spirit, The Mongolz, Falcons, Aurora, FaZe, NAVI.
• Starting from the first stage: FURIA, G2, GamerLegion, HEROIC, 3DMAX, Virtus.pro, Astralis, B8, NRG, Fluxo, Lynn Vision, Rooster.
• Four more teams will be determined through regional qualifiers — one each from Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

The prize pool is divided into two parts: $400,000 is traditionally contested at the end of the tournament, while another $600,000 is distributed among the organizations that make it to the top 14.

Closed Qualifiers – Who Will Compete for the Last Slots

While some teams have already secured their place in ESL Pro League Season 22, others will continue to fight for a spot through closed qualifiers. ESL invited teams based on the VRS rankings in four regions: Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

It's also worth noting that according to EPT rules, one organization cannot be represented by more than one roster in the main stage of the tournament. This means that if, for example, NAVI Junior or Spirit Academy successfully pass the closed qualifier, but the main team (NAVI or Team Spirit) is already directly invited, only one roster from each organization will be able to participate in ESL Pro League Season 22.

• Europe: Team Liquid, fnatic, ex-NAVI Junior, Nemiga, TNL, ENCE, OG, Passion UA, Iberian Soul, JiJieHao, PARIVISION, 9INE, Astrum, Alliance, 9 Pandas and Sashi.
• North America: M80, Getting Info, BOSS, BLUEJAYS, Supernova Comets, Marsborne, LFO 4, LAG, Party Astronauts, Bad News Capybaras, Tsunami, Marca Registrada, Aether, Jersa, MIGHT and Anything Else.
• South America: Legacy, Imperial, ODDIK, Sharks, 2Game Esports, BESTIA, 9z, RED Canids, Flamengo Esports, Bounty Hunters, SELVA, KRÜ Esports, KEYD Stars, ex-w7m, LP and Shinden.
• Asia: Chinggis Warriors, The Huns, SemperFi, Wings Up, NomadS, ex-TALON, FengDa, Housebets, Mindfreak, Ninja, IHC, Shika, Victores Sumus, Underground, Change The Game and Justice for Tomorrow.

Teams that declined participation in the closed qualifiers:

• Europe: ECSTATIC, BetBoom Team, HOTU, NIP, BIG, Spirit Academy, Betclic Apogee, SAW, Nexus, CYBERSHOKE, Johnny Speeds, BC.Game, Tricked Esports.
• North America: Complexity, Wildcard, FlyQuest Red, Chicken Coop, Nouns.
• South America: FURIA Esports Impact, paiN, MIBR, GameHunters.
• Asia: FlyQuest, Eruption, TYLOO, Rare Atom, Just Swing, Gods Reign, Only One Word, Akimbo, MANTRA, KZG, ATOX (not allowed due to ESIC ban)

These teams declined the invite, and their spots will be taken by the next ranked participants. Such replacements can impact the overall level of competition, especially in regions with a dense mid-table.

This is not just another tournament — it's a crucial test of strength amid the ongoing season and upcoming major championships. Teams will be fighting not only for money but also for status. Vitality and Spirit will try to affirm their dominance, while G2, NAVI, and FaZe will aim to prove they are still at the top.

It's worth watching not only for the titles but also to see how newcomers adapt, how new rosters perform in top teams, and whether underdogs can deliver surprises. This year's ESL Pro League is not just a tournament but a battleground for the future of the global CS scene.