The first Counter-Strike Major of 2025 will reportedly be held in the US, as organizer BLAST is "likely" considering Austin, Texas to host what would be the third CS2 Major.
S1mple is serious in Rio 🔥
As HLTV first reported, "multiple sources" told the outlet that Austin is the "likely choice." With the first Counter-Strike Major of 2025 tentatively scheduled for June of next year, it will be over seven years since North America or the US hosted a Major. The last time the US hosted was the ELEAGUE Boston Major in January 2018, where Cloud9's North American roster famously defeated FaZe Clan in a thrilling final, marking the only time an NA roster has won a CS Major.
Before Boston, Majors in the US had become a staple of the Counter-Strike schedule, with MLG Columbus in 2016 and ELEAGUE Atlanta 2017 in the years immediately preceding it. Since Boston, the closest Major for NA fans has been IEM Rio in 2022.
If this report comes to fruition, BLAST will only be hosting its second Major in a two-year period. The last CS:GO Major took place in Paris in May 2023. BLAST Paris was the first time the Danish organization has hosted a Major. According to Esports Charts, the event achieved the fourth-highest viewership and fifth-most hours watched for an event in Counter-Strike history.