11 of the 32 groups competing on the StarLadder Budapest Main 2025 will characterize the Americas at Counter-Strike’s tentpole match. In contrast to earlier years, there at the moment are a handful of groups able to advancing to the latter levels and probably lifting the trophy.
The Americas have typically lagged behind Europe in Counter-Strike esports, however over the course of 2025, the area has began growing expertise armed with the power to make an affect on the worldwide stage.
Earlier than squads take to the server, Esports Insider takes a better have a look at the North and South American sides heading to the Hungarian capital within the second instalment of a three-part occasion preview. Learn half one in every of StarLadder Budapest Main 2025’s preview on Europe’s groups right here.
Does North America Have a Likelihood?
Whereas South America continues to excel in worldwide tournaments, North America has struggled to make its mark on the Tier 1 scene. M80 has proven indicators of changing into the most recent North American staff to cement its place among the many world’s finest.
In September, it efficiently navigated its means via a stacked BLAST Open London 2025 qualifier to earn a spot within the playoffs, the place it gave MOUZ a run for its cash on the large stage.
Elsewhere, NRG stays one in every of North America’s high groups regardless of its sub-optimal performances in Tier 1 tournaments. In current months, victories at Fragville 2025, NA Revival Collection 10, and Frag Extremely Mega Jersey 2025 have demonstrated that it could compete in opposition to different notable groups within the area, along with some high-profile European rosters.
South America’s Time to Shine
The expansion of South American Counter-Strike has resulted in a number of groups managing to make an affect on the worldwide scene.
Three all-Brazilian rosters start their Budapest marketing campaign in Stage 1, hoping to advance to the second stage. Probably the most notable identify beginning within the opening stage is Legacy, a staff that caught the eye of the neighborhood on the Austin Main after scoring a shock victory over Crew Vitality in Stage 3.
Legacy has maintained its upward trajectory with a win on the CS Asia Championships 2025 and a second-place end at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, cementing its place as the most effective South American sides competing on the Main.
Whereas some South American organisations have opted to stay with a single-nation line-up, others have transitioned to worldwide rosters. All through August and September, MIBR signed Klimentiy ‘kl1m’ Krivosheev and Aleksei ‘Qikert’ Golbev on mortgage in a bid to translate its stable regional type onto the large levels.
One in all two South American groups competing in Stage 3 is paiN Gaming. After scoring a shock top-four end on the Austin Main, the staff struggled to search out its footing within the second half of 2025, struggling loads of early eliminations. Heading into StarLadder Budapest Main; nonetheless, the staff appears to have turned a nook, incomes a top-four end at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025 and placing itself again within the body for one more deep run.
All Eyes on FURIA
After topping November’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS), FURIA has established its place on the pinnacle of Counter-Strike esports. Victories at IEM Chengdu 2025 and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025 have injected a brand new lease of life right into a staff seeking to construct on its top-eight end on the Austin Main.
The acquisition of Danil ‘molodoy’ Golubenko because the staff’s AWPer has resulted in fast affect, with the rookie persevering with to reveal medical precision with the sniper rifle in hand. Mixed with the huge expertise of former Main winner Gabriel ‘FalleN’ Toledo because the in-game chief, FURIA has a great opportunity of ending 2025 with victory at StarLadder Budapest Main.
