IEM Cologne — one of the most prestigious tournaments in global esports. Every year it brings together the strongest teams on the planet, thousands of spectators in the arena, and millions online. Cologne Major isn’t just a competition — it’s a gravitational point for the entire esports industry: this is where players, organizations, media, and partners converge. For the federation, being present at a tournament like this is an opportunity to be where the important conversations are happening.
Networking
IEM Cologne Major isn’t just a tournament. It’s where the esports industry gathers in one place: organizers, teams, partners, media, production studios. And the UESF team made full use of that.
Beyond a working session with the Esports Nations Cup team — where they discussed national team preparation, details of the final stage, and further coordination — many other conversations took place. Exchanges with people connected to organizing tournaments of this scale, with representatives of professional teams and the international market. Even without Ukrainian teams at this stage of the tournament, the contacts and conversations that happen here have practical value for the federation.
Separately — a visit to the Maincast studio, which is handling the tournament’s broadcasts. For UESF, which is actively developing its own media direction and already works with Maincast at the Ukrainian Championship, this was an opportunity to connect in a working context and see the production process from the inside at a tournament of this scale.
This kind of networking doesn’t produce instant results — but it’s exactly what builds the reputation and relationships that open doors later.
“Esports is often perceived through results, rankings, and big tournaments. But for us, it’s first and foremost about people — players, coaches, organizers, fans, and an entire community that continues to grow even in the most difficult times,” — UESF CEO Andrii Gryshchenko.
Esports in Mainstream Media: How Perception Is Changing
Representatives of Ukrainian mainstream media also made the trip to Cologne alongside the UESF team. For most of them, it was their first experience at a tournament of this scale.
The trip produced published materials — capturing the arena’s atmosphere, observations from the inside, and details that simply can’t be conveyed remotely. For a reader who has never been interested in esports, it’s a first live glimpse of an event that’s typically perceived as something niche and distant.
What’s also interesting is that even without Ukrainian teams competing at this stage of the tournament, Ukraine’s presence in the arena was noticeable. NAVI fans with flags, blue-and-yellow colors among the international audience — the journalists saw it and captured it. Esports remains an unfamiliar field for many Ukrainians. But it’s exactly these kinds of pieces — written by people who saw it all firsthand — that gradually change that.
“It’s very important to the Federation that Ukrainian esports is understood and feels close not only to its existing fans, but to a wider audience as well. That’s why we support initiatives that allow journalists to see major international tournaments with their own eyes and better understand what modern esports is all about,” — UESF CEO Andrii Gryshchenko.
Why This Matters
IEM Cologne is one of the longest-running and most prestigious tournaments in professional Counter-Strike, having earned the unofficial title of “the Cathedral of Counter-Strike” thanks to its history, atmosphere, and iconic arena. LANXESS Arena became the tournament’s permanent home back in 2015 and has been a mandatory stop on the esports calendar ever since.
IEM Cologne 2025 drew over 41,000 visitors across three days at a sold-out arena and attracted a peak online audience of more than one million simultaneous viewers. In 2026, the Major returned to Cologne for the first time in a decade — 32 of the world’s best CS2 teams competed for the trophy and a $1,250,000 prize pool. Winning in Cologne is considered one of the most significant achievements in a career — on par with winning a Major. The atmosphere at LANXESS Arena is regarded as one of the best in esports.
Trips like this are an investment in relationships and understanding. Working with ENC in person, being alongside the world’s best teams and organizations, a joint press trip with Ukrainian media — all of it builds the federation’s presence where the industry’s important conversations are happening. Cologne this year isn’t a one-off trip, but part of a broader approach to international work. And that kind of experience stays with you.
