The 2025 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is shaping up to be one of the most exciting esports tournaments of the year. Featuring a completely overhauled format, regional balance, and high-stakes international play, MSI 2025 runs from June 27 to July 12 in Vancouver, Canada. With ten teams battling for the title and Worlds qualification.
Here’s everything you need to know about the MSI Schedule 2025, tournament format, team participation, and how to watch.
MSI 2025 Tournament Format
MSI 2025 is structured into two competitive stages: the Play-In Stage and the Bracket Stage.
Stage 1: Play-In Stage
- Participants: 4 teams (the second-place teams from LPL, LEC, LCP and first place from LTA South)
- Format: Double-elimination bracket
- Match Type: All matches are Best-of-Five (Bo5)
- Outcome: Top 2 teams advance to the Bracket Stage
Stage 2: Bracket Stage
- Participants: 8 teams (5 regional champions, LCK 2nd seed from First Stand victory, and 2 Play-In winners)
- Format: Double-elimination bracket
- Match Type: All matches are Best-of-Five (Bo5)
- Grand Final: One Bo5 series to crown the champion
Fearless Draft Explained
MSI 2025 introduces the Fearless Draft format:
- Once a champion is picked in a Bo5 series, it cannot be used again by either team for the rest of that series
- This promotes champion diversity and strategic depth
- Teams must rely on a deep champion pool and flexible strategies
MSI Schedule 2025: Full Match Dates and Start Times
Play-In Stage
| Date | PDT (Local) | EDT (US East) | BST (UK) | CEST (EU) | KST (Korea) | AEST (Aus) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 27 | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 4:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | Play-In Match 1 |
| June 27 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Play-In Match 2 |
| June 28 | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 4:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | Winners’ Match |
| June 28 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Losers’ Match |
| June 29 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Decider Match |
Bracket Stage
| Date | PDT (Local) | EDT (US East) | BST (UK) | CEST (EU) | KST (Korea) | AEST (Aus) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Upper Bracket Round 1 |
| July 2 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Upper Bracket Round 1 |
| July 3 | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 4:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | Upper Bracket Semifinal |
| July 4 | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 4:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | Lower Bracket Round 1 |
| July 5 | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 4:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | Lower Bracket Round 2 |
| July 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | Break Day |
| July 7 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Upper Bracket Final |
| July 8 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Lower Bracket Round 3 |
| July 9 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Lower Bracket Semifinal |
| July 10 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Lower Bracket Final |
| July 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | Rest Day |
| July 12 | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM+1 | 2:00 AM+1 | 9:00 AM+1 | 10:00 AM+1 | Grand Final |
The +1 next to a time (like “4:00 AM+1”) means the match occurs on the next calendar day in that time zone.
For example:
- A match that starts at 5:00 PM PDT on June 27 is still June 27 in North America.
- But in Korea (KST) or Australia (AEST), due to the large time difference, it will already be early morning on June 28, hence the +1.
MSI 2025 Participating Teams and Regions
MSI 2025 includes ten teams total, with two teams from each of the five restructured regions:
- LPL (China): Spring Split Champion and Runner-up
- LCK (Korea): Champion and Runner-up (2nd seed is seeded into Bracket Stage)
- LEC (Europe): Champion and Runner-up
- LTA-North (North America): Champion
- LTA-South (South America): Champion
- LCP (Southeast Asia, Oceania, Japan): Champion and Runner-up
Each team qualified based on Spring Split performance. Exact team names will be confirmed following regional playoffs.
MSI 2025 Location and Venue: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver
All matches are hosted at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This iconic arena is well-known for its Olympic and esports history. MSI 2025 marks the first international League of Legends tournament hosted in Canada, offering fans an unforgettable live experience.
How to Watch MSI 2025
Fans can watch MSI 2025 through several official channels:
- Official English Streams: Twitch, YouTube, and lolesports.com
- Other Languages: Streams available in Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, French, German, and more
- Co-streaming: Authorized community streamers across 19+ languages will provide commentary and reactions
- VODs: Full match replays and highlights will be uploaded after each game
- Drops: Watch via lolesports.com with a linked Riot account to earn in-game rewards
Matches begin with a pre-show around 30 minutes before the official start time.
MSI Schedule 2025 and Format FAQ
What is the MSI 2025 schedule?
MSI 2025 takes place from June 27 to July 12, starting with the Play-In Stage and culminating in the Grand Final.
How is MSI 2025 structured?
There are two stages: a Play-In for second seeds, and a Bracket Stage for top seeds plus two qualifiers. Both are double-elimination.
What is Fearless Draft?
Fearless Draft means once a champion is picked during a series, it cannot be used again in that same series by either team.
How many teams are at MSI 2025?
Ten teams total, with two teams representing each of the five global regions.
Where is MSI 2025 being held?
All matches take place at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.
What times are the matches?
Matches start at 12:00 PM or 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time depending on the day and stage.
What can teams win at MSI 2025?
A $2,000,000 prize pool, a direct qualification spot to Worlds, and regional Worlds seeding benefits.
How do I watch MSI 2025 live?
Tune in on lolesports.com, Twitch, or YouTube. Streams are available in multiple languages.
Will there be MSI drops for viewers?
Yes, viewers watching on lolesports.com with a linked Riot account are eligible for Drops during matches.
What happens on the MSI rest day?
July 6 is a break day with no matches, allowing teams to rest before final rounds.
