The excitement surrounding the professional Dota 2 scene shows no signs of slowing down as Valve has officially unveiled the list of direct invitations for this year’s premier event: The International 2025 (TI12). In addition to confirming the eight teams that will receive direct entry to the main event in Hamburg, Germany, Valve has also detailed the full structure for regional qualifiers, giving teams from around the globe a final chance to punch their ticket to the world stage.
Directly Invited Teams to The International 2025
Based on consistent performance and results throughout the 2025 Dota Pro Circuit season, eight teams have earned their place at this year’s International. These squads have demonstrated exceptional resilience, gameplay, and dominance across tournaments, and will now bypass the gauntlet of regional qualifiers.
Here are the eight directly invited teams:
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Team Liquid
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PARIVISION
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BB Team
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Team Tidebound (now competing as All Gamers)
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Gaimin Gladiators
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Team Spirit
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Team Falcons
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Tundra Esports
While most of these selections come as no surprise, the inclusion of Gaimin Gladiators raised some eyebrows. Once a dominant force, the Western European roster has had a somewhat underwhelming season compared to their prior years of top-tier performance. However, their accumulated points and overall impact throughout the year were still enough to earn Valve’s confidence.
Notably, six out of the eight directly invited teams hail from Western and Eastern Europe, underscoring the continued dominance of the European regions in competitive Dota. While this may leave fans hoping for more regional diversity slightly disappointed, Valve’s choices reflect the undisputed strength of the European scene, which has long been the backbone of international Dota 2 competition.
The Road to Hamburg – Regional Qualifiers
With 8 of the 16 total TI2025 slots already filled, the remaining eight positions will be determined through regional qualifiers taking place across six major territories. Valve is once again using a tried-and-true format, assigning one slot each to four regions and two slots apiece to the highly competitive Western Europe and Southeast Asia scenes.
Here’s how the TI12 Regional Qualifiers are structured:
Eastern Europe (1 Slot)
🗓️ June 4 – 8
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Aurora Gaming
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Natus Vincere
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NAVI Junior
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One Move
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L1GA TEAM
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Virtus.pro
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+4 teams from Open Qualifiers
South America (1 Slot)
🗓️ June 4 – 8
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HEROIC
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OG.LATAM
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Edge
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Team Den
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+6 teams from Open Qualifiers
China (1 Slot)
🗓️ June 9 – 12
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Xtreme Gaming
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Yakult Brothers
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+6 teams from Open Qualifiers
North America (1 Slot)
🗓️ June 9 – 12
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Shopify Rebellion
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Wildcard Gaming
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+6 teams from Open Qualifiers
Southeast Asia (2 Slots)
🗓️ June 13 – 17
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TALON
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BOOM Esports
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Trailer Park Boys
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The MongolZ
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Ivory
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Execration
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+4 teams from Open Qualifiers
Western Europe (2 Slots)
🗓️ June 13 – 17
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Nigma Galaxy
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MOUZ
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OG
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AVULUS
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+6 teams from Open Qualifiers
Valve’s format sticks closely to the structure of recent years, with SEA and WEU receiving two qualifier slots due to the sheer volume of competitive talent and tighter regional parity. Regions like China, South America, and North America, by comparison, only receive one qualification spot each.
Of note, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) does not have a dedicated qualifier. This means that teams like Nigma Galaxy, which have roots in MENA, must compete in the already stacked Western European qualifiers, adding further intensity to the region’s bracket.
Western Europe Qualifiers Set to Be a Bloodbath
As has become tradition, the Western European qualifiers are expected to be some of the most brutal in the world. The region is home to an elite pool of talent, and several high-profile organizations have reshuffled rosters or re-entered the scene in hopes of qualifying for TI12. MOUZ, for instance, made a notable return to competitive Dota specifically for this qualifier run.
One surprising omission from the direct invite list was Team Secret, a storied organization with a rich TI history. While their 2025 season may not have matched prior years in terms of results, many expect Secret to have little trouble making it through the Open Qualifiers, potentially setting up dramatic clashes in the final WEU bracket.
TI2025 on the Horizon
With The International 2025 set to take place in Hamburg, fans can expect an unforgettable showdown between the best Dota 2 teams from around the globe. As direct invites begin to lock in their preparation, the rest of the field will now enter the most intense stage of the competitive season, regional qualifiers filled with veteran rosters, rising stars, and everything on the line.
As the road to Hamburg continues, one thing is certain: Dota 2’s greatest stage is nearly set, and the battle for the Aegis of Champions is about to begin.
