World Cup of Pokémon 2025 Main Round: Captain Interviews
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Logo by Pissog.
With summer rapidly approaching comes another iteration of Pokémon's oldest team tournament, the World Cup. Players from across the globe have gathered into their teams, some stepping onto the big stage for the first time, while others look to repeat former glories. Between them things like motivation, skill, effort, and nerves will vary, but everyone in the tournament will have one main goal in mind: end the season with a blue trophy. While in past years we've taken it upon ourselves to tell you all about the player in the tournament, this time around we thought it would be interesting to get a different perspective: what do the teams think in their own words? In this article you'll have the chance to read the thoughts of the various teams and how they're coming into the tournament. With one of Smogon's most coveted trophies on the line, everyone but one team will go home disappointed, and it's time to find out who that is.
| Click on the buttons to read the team captains' interviews! | ||||
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Zoyotte
I think that SV OU might be our best tier, since despite losing a player this year, we still have talents that have proven themselves and are ready to win.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Zoyotte
I think all the French speakers of the team wants to face either France or Belgium, since we know them well, and most of them are good friends.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Zoyotte
We're not afraid of anyone, whoever we get to play, we will give our best to win; it's Pokémon after all, you just have to be solid and prep well.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Zoyotte
The atmosphere is good! We each play in our own corner, some players are passing exams, so we aren't testing or anything, just waiting for the tournament to start. We're excited to start the tournament!
teal
Team Africa has undergone a lot of changes during past WCoPs. Who remains the soul of the team these days? Is there a certain country or group of users that lead the way inside of Africa's team?
Zoyotte
The old players, they are still cheering, helping, and, for those who still can, playing. We are all from different countries, from different horizons, but we're a team after all, so we function in a group. But captains still have the last word and need to make everyone happy and confident in order to have a good atmosphere.
teal
Africa is one of the more underrepresented geographical regions when it comes to Smogon Tournaments. What's the strategy in looking for new players?
Zoyotte
That is one of the major problems when it comes to managing Africa: players are hard to find. The last few years, we had only three new players; add to that those who don't play anymore, and it becomes a real nightmare. The other issue is about the IPs and availabilities. Availability rules are changing almost every year, and valid African IPs are hard to obtain; we've had so many false hopes that having a player with more than 50 posts is scarce.
teal
Where does the team see itself in 3 years? What are the goals of this Africa squad, are you aiming for incremental improvements or to go all the way?
Zoyotte
We never know what tomorrow will bring; maybe the team will disappear due to the lack of players? Maybe half of the roster will fly away to play with other competitive teams? Honestly we're doing our best to have more and more players, we adapted ourselves to the new format, and we've renewed our roster. We're going step by step; last year we managed to stay in the main event, and I think all the players want to aim for Top 8. If God is with us, we have no reason to not go that far.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
haxlolo
Even if we firmly believe in all of our players, we think that our strengths are SV UU, ORAS OU, and we can't not mention ACR1 in SV OU. JustFranco is simply our best player; I think we can all agree on that after that amazing performance in qualifiers and tiebreaks, and we're sure that it will follow through to the main event. Destro16 is our golden boy; he has so much potential, and we hope he can show what he's worth in main event; and finally, in spite of the troublesome games he had versus Asia, ACR1 has the experience and the skill to kill it in SV OU.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
haxlolo
As many should know, we Argentinians are... competitive. We definitely hold quite the number of rivalries. As obvious as it might be, we'd definitely like to beat Brazil, UK, or France too.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
haxlolo
We don't... really care, I guess? Considering our status as one of the teams who are having their first year in main stage, we know we're going to be the underdogs in most situations, so we'll just stick to our guns and try our hardest to beat them.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
haxlolo
Morale and team spirit is booming, honestly. Our country is always united when it comes to a thing we love, so it should be no surprise that after finally qualifying we're even tighter as a group. Sure, maybe there were some issues with one of our players going 0-2 when playing his last two games on the day of the deadline, but there's always small hiccups, right? Talking about building and testing, we're having some sparring matches here and there, so we're definitely doing fine in that part.
Maia
Making it to the main event after trying for so many years trying in qualifiers is a huge accomplishment. How is the team going to maintain this momentum going into the main event?
haxlolo
Is there no better way to keep momentum than feeling that you've finally accomplished something and can go even further than that?? We've finally done what was thought of as impossible by some of us, so we will use that drive to move us forward and make the non-believers shut up.
Maia
Your team emerged as the victors of a veritable gauntlet of a tiebreaker to claim your pass into the main stage. How did the team stay composed through what must have been an incredibly tense and chaotic week?
haxlolo
To be honest, ACR1 and JustFranco were way more calm than the rest of the team itself. For us, it was a bundle of stress and nerves, not because of a lack of confidence in them, but rather because of something bad going wrong like a stray crit or bad luck in general. It would have really sucked if we were finally a step away from getting a spot in main event just for it to be taken away by RNG. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, and just like your usual rollercoaster, you are (most of the times) glad you ended up doing it.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Eoward
SV OU. This was very rarely the case for Belgium, but we found it difficult to choose the starting SV OU players because many of them had shown great promise. Mada and Ruby are often mentioned, and rightly so, but I'm sure we'll be pleasantly surprised by others.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Eoward
We're going to blow up France, a small country where people can't agree on the name of the ‘pain au chocolat' and which is in fact just a (large) DLC of Belgium.
On a more serious note, we're looking forward to playing our neighbors the Netherlands and France, as we know their players well.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Eoward
We enjoy the challenge and playing big players, so none of that. If anything, we prefer to avoid lesser players like Cicada or Patatex.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Eoward
Team Belgium is a family for whom winning the WCoP is surely the primary objective (after getting married and having kids... well, whatever).
We have a very close-knit group. We recruited some guys a few months ago with whom we've never stopped training.
We're going to give ourselves the means to achieve our goals.
Maia
Your team has previously expressed concerns about fielding a roster, especially with the format shift last year. Is that still a concern and if so, how are you navigating those challenges?
Eoward
It's true that we have less choice than other countries, but we're very happy with the squad. We've done a great job recruiting again this year, and we're really pleased with the new players.
Maia
Belgium is a team that seems to be carving out a mainstay spot in the main event, but many of the players on the roster are relative unknowns to the wider tournaments scene. Which players from your roster are the ones to watch out for?
Eoward
Generally speaking, Pokémon tournaments often favor players who are popular or with whom we share an affinity, sometimes to the detriment of the players' true level and motivation.
I believe that every player can perform and they have my full confidence. Newcomers have talent.
A special mention to Smikkel, one of our rookies who is starting out as a regular and who I'm sure is going to do very well.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Eternal Spirit
We are a threat in every single slot to be honest, but historically, Brazilians have had a lot of success in old gens. So, we'd say that SS / SM / ORAS have a lot of potential to be our powerhouses, as Lusa and TDNT are more than proven individually, while Sand Castle is experienced in basically every OU gen and just wins games.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Luigi
Europe, since they inherited the Greek players. Fuck Greece.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
HANTSUKI
Everyone with a timezone above GMT+2. Brazilians have no fear of "skill", just scheduling nightmares.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Luigi
Yeah, you could say we've been grinding
teal
Team Brazil has had some internal difficulties over the years, with users often ending up on the wrong side of Smogon law. Should we expect to see more chaos this time around, or is the team focused on just their games?
HANTSUKI
Yes, we are currently working on many new ways to bring chaos to Smogon. WCoP is just a distraction from our primary goals. We just don't do hate crimes and stuff like that, our focus is on cheating and general mischief.
teal
How is Team Brazil finding new players for the future? What makes you feel a player will succeed within the Brazilian team, as opposed to someone who might be good outside of it, but you don't think can reach a WCoP level?
Luigi
For years now we've been running a series of tournaments so new players can compete for a chance at the team. Since we also offer a money prize to make sure people are trying their best, they usually end up being won by old farts that would have made the team anyway, but we take notice when someone makes it through the gauntlet against players like Gama and mncmt.
Additionally, making the team is sometimes about filling in a specific niche. For example, this year we have two new players: Dugtrio Is Broken, who plays an average of 400 SV OU games a day on the ladder, and Ampha, who made the semifinals of our SV OU and UU/Ubers tournaments and won the Master tiers one. That level of commitment (some might say addiction) and versatility, respectively, earned them their spots on the team.
teal
It's no secret that Brazil's had some tough losses in the last few years. Does the memories of those matches haunt the team, are they used as motivation, or have the players largely moved on from the past?
HANTSUKI
Brazilians laugh at their own failures. As an example, instead of remember "the time we got relegated", we remember it as the "mensoninho episode"—which can be roughly translated as sleepy mence episode—when mncmt took an activity L because he drank Gustavo Lima's energy drink that didn't keep him awake at all. So yeah, everyone moved on pretty fast from past results.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Jytcampbell
We're entering the tournament with strong confidence in our performance across the old gens and lower tiers. Skype in SM and FC in Ubers in particular have demonstrated consistent dominance in their respective tiers over the past few years. While our SV OU core may be viewed as less certain given the challenges we faced in last year's World Cup, we've used our past shortcomings to build experience and are fully committed to surpassing expectations this time around.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Jytcampbell
We're particularly looking forward to the opportunity to face US Midwest. We have a longstanding relationship with their team, and since they're the defending champions, it would be huge morale boost to secure a win against them. France is another team we're eager to compete against, as a redemption arc following our close loss in the 2022 WCoP finals.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Jytcampbell
There's no one in particular that we're looking to avoid in pools. WCoP is a highly competitive tournament, and luck of the draw is a part of the game. Every team has standout players, and we respect the level of competition across the board.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Jytcampbell
Team morale is high, we're confident in our collective abilities and cannot be discouraged by previous losses. Naturally, not everyone can match the legendary prep intensity of the one and only watashi.
Maia
Canada has a long history in WCoP, having been participants since the very beginning. How has the team's identity and mindset shifted over nearly 20 years of competing?
Jytcampbell
Over nearly two decades of WCoP participation, Canada's identity has naturally evolved as new players have joined and others have moved on. However, one constant has been our close-knit team culture and a persistent drive to remain competitive at the highest level. Our semifinal run in 2018 was a huge turning point that reignited our momentum, and the narrow finals loss in 2022, despite being heartbreaking for those of us involved, reaffirmed that we have the potential to win the tournament. We believe that we have the talent to make a serious push this year, and we're hungry for the blue.
Maia
Canada's recent appearances have been mostly marked by a failure to get out of pools, including being relegated at least once. What changes have you been making to make another strong run for the trophy?
Jytcampbell
The format change in recent years posed some challenges for us, particularly in adapting to SV OU, where we had to rely on a few less experienced players who were still finding their footing in high-stakes tournament play, as our more experienced players had to cover other tiers. However, those same players have since gained valuable experience and grown significantly in both skill and confidence. With that development, combined with the leadership and knowledge of our seasoned veterans, we feel poised to make a strong run this year.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Mister McLovin
We feel we have a strong roster overall. In terms of most confident, probably SV Ubers and ORAS are the ones we are most excited to show off.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Mister McLovin
Of course we hope to beat all of them; however, special mention to Team Europe, as they eliminated us from top 8 last year, so we would love to have the opportunity to prove ourselves once again and move on this time.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Mister McLovin
There are a lot of good teams out there with really strong players, of course. However, we would not want to go against our brothers in Argentina in hopes of not affecting either of our chances of qualifying to the next round.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Mister McLovin
Morale and team spirit feel good right now. We have been continously testing and playing each other during the year to keep ourselves strong and busy.
teal
Chile put on a great run last year. Is the team confident of repeating that success?
Mister McLovin
Its no secret that recent bans affected our team significantly; however, we are very confident that we can beat our record from last year.
teal
As one of the smaller nations in WCoP, do you find that developing players is easier than finding them, or have your scouting efforts been rewarded?
Mister McLovin
Aside from the aforementioned exceptions, we think that developing players is the way to go for us. We have really motivated new players that are eager to learn, and that motivates us to keep going and be better as a team.
teal
Chile has a mix of players with pretty different levels of experience. Is there a sense of continuity within the team, with older and more established players mentoring the newer ones, or is it more of a competitive vibe?
Mister McLovin
As said previously, we are working as a team, and newer players have shown real motivation to learn and improve. Our established players and newer ones are working together towards the same goal: win the World Cup of Pokémon.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Nashrock
All! I trust all my players are the best.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Nashrock
Every team that made their way into this event is a respectable opponent. If it has to be one team in particular, I'd like to see us beating one of the previous years' champions.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Nashrock
Nobody. We'll try our hardest against every player, but we aren't scared of anyone.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Nashrock
We have a more relaxed and casual vibe, which is my goal when it comes to management. Grind hard and have fun.
teal
Smogon isn't known for meshing super well with the notable Chinese playerbase in Pokémon. Is that affecting the team? Are there players that you're aware of that are at a high level but don't want to play WCoP?
Nashrock
Most active players to some extent know Smogon exists even if they aren't super active on the site, so it didn't really affect too much while gathering the team. I don't think I know anyone who didn't want to play WCoP unless they are busy irl—I only wish we could have more slots instead LOL.
teal
Describe how Team China has picked their team so far—are you looking at Smogon and other sites? Are there tournaments that helped pick out a gem here or there?
Nashrock
We picked our players based on tour performances, both from Smogon and PS China. There are all sorts of tournaments happening on PS China all the year, and it is a fantastic platform for new Chinese players to enter the community.
teal
In the history of China's participation in WCoP, what match stands out the most so far? What did you learn from it, and how does it influence your approach this year?
Nashrock
Our momentum is now at one of its highest levels after making our way into the main event and staying in it last year. It is everyone's goal to further improve our record.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Leni
We feel confident across all tiers thanks to the versatility and depth of our roster. That said, we're especially excited about our presence in UU and Ubers. Scottie has been a consistent standout in Ubers and is expected to keep that momentum going, while Kushalos has been performing at a top level who knows how long at this point.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Leni
It's always a good time going up against the European countries—there's a fun mix of rivalry and respect there that makes those games especially enjoyable. Belgium has been always very vocal about everything, I guess they're worth a nomination here.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Leni
US Northeast is stacked with raw star power from top to bottom, so if there's a team we wouldn't mind dodging in pools, it's probably them. Avoiding fade, lax, and Star to name a few doesn't sound a bad idea.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Leni
We've been taking a fairly relaxed approach so far, focusing on getting to know the new faces on the team. With the recent rule changes, we probably experienced the biggest roster shake-up in our team's history, so building chemistry has been a priority. That said, once the tournament gets closer, we'll definitely be kicking things into gear.
teal
The big question for Europe is: when do you think you'll get over the line? Having come close a number of times, it's clear that Europe is a title-challenging team, but what needs to be different to change that to title-winning team?
Leni
Every year, we're working toward the big goal of finally taking it all home. The competition keeps getting tighter, and the margins are smaller than ever, so what really matters is staying grounded. We believe in humble grinding and trusting our own process—prepping for each team carefully without overthinking or getting lost in the pressure.
teal
What are the challenges of continuing to run a (strong) regional team, with the looming threat of new nations offering an alternative for your players?
Leni
One of the biggest challenges is staying active throughout the year and keeping an eye out for emerging talent. With nations like Belgium and the Netherlands becoming established teams under the new rules, it's no secret that we'll eventually lose some key players. That means we need to stay proactive in identifying and developing new talent who can grow into future stars. It's a transition that might take a year or two, but it's an inevitable part of adapting to the evolving landscape.
teal
Europe tends to perform every year—what's the secret behind the team's consistency over the last few years? Are you confident in repeating a deep finish in this tournament?
Leni
A huge part of our consistency over the years comes down to the incredible work of our previous captains, Ruft and Tony. They've laid a strong foundation, and we really can't emphasize enough how much credit they deserve for keeping Europe competitive year after year. Alongside them, We Three Kings—more fondly known as Lasse—has also been one of the main backbones of our success, providing invaluable support and stability throughout the seasons. Our goal now is to honor that legacy with another deep run and hopefully make this year one to remember.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Leftiez
I have full trust in all my players; otherwise, why would they be part of the team?
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Leftiez
We want to beat Italy and our longtime nemesis in playoffs aka US East.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Leftiez
We were really afraid of playing against SoulWind and even Dasmer, but now that they're out of the picture, I think we can finally puff out our chests.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Leftiez
Yes, we began our preparations over a month ago already. Our players have been active, and they're approaching the tournament with clarity and discipline.
Maia
Your roster has had a big shakeup from last year and lost some key players, and this is the second time in as many years that the roster has seen a big change like this. How is team cohesion in the face of this turnover?
Leftiez
To be honest, we've gone through quite a few changes within Team France, many more than just two, but that's not the point here. In terms of team cohesion, everything is going very well, and we're genuinely grateful for the effort our players are putting in even before the tournament has started.
Maia
France is a main event mainstay with a championship under your belt already. Do you worry about the team becoming complacent in this position, and how do you keep everyone motivated?
Leftiez
Of course, France has already won a World Cup, and that's something we're proud of, but that was in a very different generation. Winning a season in Scarlet & Violet now feels essential, to show the world that France is not just strong in Gen 8, but in every generation.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
QWILY
The oldgens are definitely our strongest part. We have a wide range of older players that have proven themselves in many officials tournaments now, such as xray, Relous, and Michael. Even if our starting lineup won't reflect it now, in later stages of the tournament we will receive their support.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
QWILY
As this tournament has had many storylines throughout the years, the likes of US South and Europe for sure are the rivals we are looking at the most. We've had many iconic battles vs them up until this point and we want to come out on top now.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
QWILY
We aren't really afraid of anyone; as a captain I personally fear any scheduling drama more than any threat a player could pose to us really.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
QWILY
Prep already began before the tour even started, and I think that everyone is pretty hyped and motivated, WCoP is for sure the most fun team tour on Smogon. We're ready.
Maia
Germany is considered to be one of the last big teams without a blue trophy to their name. How is this year's roster looking to right that wrong?
QWILY
Well, our consistency shows that we‘ve done many things right in the past years. This year we've added a couple of veterans and combined them with newer hungry players and all of them have the desire to win and go all the way this year.
Maia
Your starting lineup has some relatively new talent, like Trickster7 and Padox, and some very old talent, like Relous and ict. How are these players from different eras meshing to create a cohesive team?
QWILY
We don't really think having new players on a team changes the dynamic. It's always amazing to see how people who sometimes hardly know each other can come together for WCoP and create forever-lasting memories and bonds . We are playing for our nation, and that's the only thing that matters to everyone and unites our newer talents with our older talents.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Dj Breloominati
SV, SM, ORAS, Ubers: locked in and ready to go. Day 1s. SS and UU, not so much, given IPF and Master Chief just switched jerseys. Will need to wait and see if they remember which side they're on.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Dj Breloominati
Looking forward to run it back against Midwest given we barely fell short last year.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Dj Breloominati
Would be cool to dodge players like DugZa, Fusien, Clean, Gxe, Ainz etc. We've teamed up in so many tours that our games feel like another scrim. This town IS big enough for the both of us.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Dj Breloominati
Morale and team spirit is thriving as always. We're testing how long we can go without doing actual work. Why stress before the tournament when you can save it all for the actual event?
teal
Do you feel team India has any stars that you're relying on? What are the biggest hurdles for an Indian player in competitive Pokémon?
Dj Breloominati
Freezai: regardless of what else happens, he always turns it up this time of year. Though if our stars truly do align, our ISP won't quit on us midgame—a big if, considering half the team is playing on Wi-Fi networks named "Mobile Hotspot." This is assuming we manage to dodge the friendly neighborhood cow stepping on someone's laptop, but one can hope.
teal
How has the culture changed within Team India over the last few years of World Cup participation? The team has gone from underdog to mainstay regular, has the level been raised within the team in terms of preparation?
Dj Breloominati
I think it really boils down to a lot of us getting better exposure, which we were desperately lacking before. Post-Covid, the average player has had more opportunities on Smogon to participate, play, and learn. The big lights are no longer blinding us, and I believe we've grown accustomed to the spotlight.
teal
Who are the unsung heroes of Team India? What names should Smogon know, even if they're not being bolded in the match thread?
Dj Breloominati
There is no Team India without Winterains. He laid the foundation way back in 2019 and brought together a lot of the core members that are still part of the setup today. Alongside him, people like Noisy played a big role in helping us recruit and grow what is now a thriving PokéIndia community.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Niko
It is pretty clear looking at the roster that we have some of the best options if not the best option in the whole circuit in many slots; however, half the slots will play in SV OU, and our main concern is to come prepared in that tier, both in building and in game knowledge. We are not concerned about the quality of our roster, but SV OU is a complex tier that requires a lot of grinding and a lot of time for prep, and that will be the main obstacle in my opinion.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Niko
While our main goal is to win the whole tournament and we don't particularly care who we face in order to do so, having a rematch against Midwest, who defeated us in finals last year, would be cool. There are also very good teams that lacked the consistency to get to playoffs when we did in the past editions and are surely interesting to face one-on-one; it'd be interesting to find one of those teams if we manage to get past round 1.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Niko
The majority of our team doesn't have a lot of time to spend on this game anymore, so I think I give voice to a widely shared sentiment when I say we want to avoid players who are annoying in scheduling and/or exploit the rules to take logistics advantages. Then surely some players are stronger than others and any of us has their own preference, at this point we are well aware that we don't get in the tournament as underdogs tho. We'll see what happens.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Niko
There is no particularly high effort involved, but some of us are already working for WCoP, especially in SV OU. As I said earlier this tour requires a great number of games to prepare, and not everyone in the team is capable of coming up with their own builds, so it's necessary to at least have some idea ready before the tournament starts. Anyways I'd say in the other tiers the situation is pretty chill and the players are all veterans who prob don't feel as much need to grind as the SVers.
teal
Italy has historically been one of Smogon's strongest regions. Do you think there's a certain "Italian" approach to Pokémon, or are all of your players pretty varied in terms of how they play the game?
Niko
I think your statement is partly true but would also point out that before 2020 and the new formats we weren't considered as good as we are now. In 2020 a big role was played by the mates who provided high-quality builds and by the fact that the players were very focused and extremely accurate in in-game decisionmaking, and we have to count on that if we want to bring home another blue. Other than that, I don't think there is a specific approach we can extend to all of our players.
teal
The team this year will be composed of players present for your prior WCoP victory and players that have never won before. Do you think that the new players will learn from the veterans, or are you hoping that they bring new knowledge to the team?
Niko
What I really hope for the "fresher" players is that they bring us enthusiasm and smart ideas; they are all experienced players and even if they did not win a trophy yet they don't need babysitting either. We count on them a lot and we are sure they will show what they are worth very soon.
teal
How does Team Italy handle losses? Are you defiant, sad, angry, etc.? Do you use losses at motivation for wins, or does the team feel the pressure when a result goes the wrong way?
Niko
We use to discuss losses and debate about what could be done better but at the same time we don't want to lose focus from the games that are still to come. We are all longtime friends, and so even harsh discussions kinda never turn into beef or anything that can ruin the environment. But yeah, we are competitive enough to get heated sometimes, even though always in good faith. So know it: if you are in team Italy and you choke a won game, a special treatment is coming for you...
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
ojr
As captain of the Dutch team I have full confidence in all of my players to perform well. But the ones who specifically stood out to me during qualifiers were Axzel and PoseidonWrath. Both players have displayed great growth and seem at ease on the big stage right now. Axzel has been on top of his game, has shown to be able to compete with SPL-level players, and is the face of our SV OU core. PoseidonWrath has taken care of the ORAS slot for us this year, which he has done with great success. Two wins over respected ORAS players in Nor and devin and a close loss to SPL starter Axel were great to see from someone with little ORAS experience prior to WCoP.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
ojr
I hope we beat Europe for taking our Dutch players. I also would like some friendly fire with our neighbor country Belgium.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
ojr
The players who helped us during qualifiers; otherwise, we aren't scared of anyone.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
ojr
We are super hyped and motivated. We are looking to stay on top of our game and be ready to come crashing through in the main stage.
Maia
You went from the absolute bottom of qualifiers in 2024 to the main event in 2025. What changed to help the team make the push through this year?
ojr
I believe that our 2024 run was a big underperformance, but a score like that is deserved when you aren't actively preparing to be at your top of your game. This changed completely this year, as activity is being enforced way more. Our team has also grown in-game as well as in players, as we have more testing partners from non-roster players too now. Its great to see the Dutch community come together and grow this year. I hope to see more of this in the future.
Maia
To get to the main event, you took down one of WCoP's oldest and most storied teams as a very new competitor. How did the team feel about such a huge victory?
ojr
Our series vs Asia was a great experience. Personally for me, I have many friends who have played or are playing for Asia, so it felt like there was an extra layer to this matchup. The series vs Asia was also extra special, because in 2019 Netherlands also faced Asia in qualifiers and was one game close of making it to main event but missed out; so, making it now vs them feels pretty sweet. I knew when the week started that we would definitely stand a chance but that many would see us as the underdog, as we lack big SPL names that our opponents did have. But it was our goal to not focus on that, all we needed were five wins and we would just focus on only that. Going 1-2 down and then swinging that to a 4-2 was amazing to witness. We had three games remaining to get that final win and two games were played at the same time. The Discord call watching Ivar and Ainz during these games was super tense but so fun, especially when Ivar landed the final blow vs JJ. It felt very surreal to me at that moment at and honestly it still feels surreal to have made main, especially without our biggest names who are now on Europe. Now the next task is for us to keep our spot here in main and maybe even dream of a playoffs runs, because why wouldn't we dream big ;)
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
ninjadog
Ubers has always been a strong slot for us, so probably that if picking just one, but we feel confident across all tiers.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
ninjadog
I don't think there are any specific teams we really want to beat, nor do we have any particular rivalries.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
ninjadog
I think if you are worried about specific players in pools you aren't winning the tournament, and the only player we would possibly be scared of is banned (the goat nat).
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
ninjadog
Team morale is good, I would guess compared to other teams we skew to the more relaxed side, which is how our team has always been.
teal
OCN has flirted with regaining its former glory, but so far all efforts have fallen flat. What are you doing to change that?
ninjadog
We've had good regular seasons over the past few seasons but failed in the playoffs, I guess it's just a matter of not peaking too early and maintaining focus for the entire tour.
teal
It's no secret that there have been logistical issues for OCN players on Smogon—time zones for tournaments being a major inflection point in the past. Is this affecting the team, are there players that seem disillusioned with Smogon, or are those concerns largely secondary to the tournament?
ninjadog
No I don't think this has any impact on WCoP; obviously we don't have some of the same opportunities to play in other tours, but for WCoP it shouldn't make a difference.
teal
How's the format feel? OCN is a team that's seemingly able to put out a quality roster regardless of WCoP format, but the loss of oldgens might hit you harder than most. Are you guys excited for the current iteration of WCoP?
ninjadog
The last WCoP with classic gens was 2019, so I'm not really sure of the relevance here, since only myself and etern still remain as players from that roster anyway. I like the current format, I think it has a good mix of tiers to be interesting to both play and spectate in.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Minatevis
I would say that there is no tier where we are more confident, but this also does not mean that we are discredited; we will give our best in each match, we got here and now the goal is to stay.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Minatevis
Our goal is to stay in the main event and to do that we will do our best to beat anyone who will be in our way.. But we would appreciate beating Brazil and Europe specifically.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Minatevis
None. It's 10 humans against 10 humans and our mindset is the same as in qualifiers; just put the same effort in no matter the opponent.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Minatevis
Everything is normal, we will do our best and that is what matters; for some the pressure must be bigger, but we do not let it affect our work. In terms of preparation, there are some who are preparing and testing teams, but most are relaxing. Some may find this a problem, but honestly the most important thing is to have our players healthy and in good psychological shape; we trust them for the games, and that's it.
Maia
Portugal is in the main event just one year after forming and left qualifiers as the only team not to have to play a tiebreaker to boot. What is the team's secret to success?
Minatevis
Hard work, great leadership and mindset; we don't underestimate or overestimate someone based on their name, we always put the same effort in, some teams looked at qualifiers as "easy" because they had bigger names and now are out... Also, no one believed in us, and that relieved a lot of the pressure that some would have, it definitely helped a lot.
Maia
As one of WCoP's newest national teams, have you been trying to develop national talent in the community now that you're established separate from Europe? How have you been finding new players?
Minatevis
Of course, since last year when Portugal was created the goal never changed: we want to find and develop new talent and grow each day so one day we can be seen as a top nation. Fortunately we have great invested people in the community who help scouting and developing newer names and hopefully making playoffs or staying in the main event will get us some clout in this community, which helps captivating future prospects and players from other communities. Blocking Europe from stealing our players for future years was a great step for our project.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
Gingy
Naturally, the easiest answer here will be whatever tier stresh is playing. The better answer is that we're confident in most tiers. Almost every player on the roster finished quals with at least one win, and they'll no doubt pick up some official sheet ones on the main stage.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
Gingy
We don't really have rivalries with other teams? Everyone here just wants to enjoy the game for what it is and hopefully have that translate to some wins and a fun tour.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
Gingy
We'd like to avoid JustFranco and Duko. Thankfully we're already 50% of the way there.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
Gingy
Morale and team spirit's looking good. We spent the entire week making the custom avatar and have not had a single conversation regarding the tiers in the tournament. Qualifier burnout is real and we'd like to avoid it as much as possible.
Maia
It's no secret that xavgb is considered by many to be the linchpin of the United Kingdom this year, including playing a staggering nine games in qualifiers. How is the rest of the team rallying around an anchor performance from a player of his caliber?
Gingy
xavgb is someone who is 18-2 for the UK over the past two years. Anyone not considering him to be the linchpin should probably have their heads checked. The records are honestly even better if you decide to go back to include the 2023 run. It's incredibly comforting for the team being able to rely on someone of this caliber to bail us out, but the goal will be to not need to come main stage. The players we have are good enough to navigate our way through groups. They need only prove it.
Maia
While the United Kingdom did make playoffs in 2023, the vast majority of your team's runs in this tour have involved having to play qualifiers. How is the team planning to avoid another relegation?
Gingy
People forget too quickly that we made those playoffs in 2023. The team structure hasn't changed all that much. Yes, we have had to go through qualifiers this tour but maybe we like it that way? It builds character, shows mentality. The team doesn't cry, it works. We are not Spain. We came right back up. Between structure, experience, and our proven winners, relegation shouldn't be in our vocabulary.
Maia
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
spoo
Having an SV core headed up by oldspicemike and S1nn0hC0nfirm3d doesn't leave much room for doubt, to say the least. Kythr actually had the team's best SV record last year, while avarice and Foolycl are incredible players in their own right; I shouldn't need to remind anyone about avarice's playoffs run last WCoP, and Foolycl is a newcomer who I'm extremely confident will surpass people's expectations. I think this SV lineup is one of the best, if not the best, in the whole tour.
Maia
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
spoo
Beating the other US teams always feels good. South looks especially strong this year, so I'll go with them and Northwest.
Maia
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
spoo
No one's coming to mind, honestly. Every player is beatable.
Maia
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
spoo
Morale is pretty high, though maybe not yet as high as last year. Historically, one of Midwest's biggest strengths is the social cohesion and chemistry across the whole team, but this year we've made some big roster shakeups—old leaders like starry and Luthier stepping away to make room for new faces like myself, Bouff, and RZA. I think it'll take until the tour properly starts for that social cohesion to return and for activity levels to kick into high gear. That said, our UU and Ubers slots in particular have been extremely active in preparation for the main event.
Maia
As the defending champions from 2024, how is the team feeling about the trend of winning teams not being able to make a repeat championship run?
spoo
We don't care.
Maia
By all accounts from last year, the Midwest team environment is nothing short of pure chaos. How does this sort of environment factor into the team's prep and play?
spoo
I think it's just proof of the age-old principle that if a team is fun, people care, and if people care, results will follow. Hidden behind the chaos of Luthier crashing out at people in game discussion and a custom bot that pings starry every day to tell him to shut the fuck up is actually a team full of people who (probably) care about each other. Maybe it's an unconventional team environment, but everyone keeps each other active and motivated to win in whatever way we know how.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
ABR
Probably our oldgens. We have longstanding veterans playing in them and feel very on top of these more stable metagames as a collective.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
ABR
The other US teams, respect em but also gotta assert our dominance as "the" US team once again.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
ABR
Cliche answer but none, any challenge is accepted.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
ABR
Many slots are already getting ahead of things, collaborating and building and testing before the start of the tournament. Things will also certainly be even more active once pools go out.
teal
Northeast is often seen as the inheritor of US East, but barring a successful first run out, the team has underperformed. What's the idea in fixing that? Do the current players still see themselves as carrying on East's legacy, or is that well in the past now?
ABR
Fixing that looks like being confident in our abilities and but also being aware that the wins won't come for free. We know we have to work hard if we want to reach glory again. Regarding the legacy of East itself, some of our older players who were on East might view themselves as carrying it on, but most of our players likely view NE as a separate entity.
teal
NE is a team that's had very familiar faces in the squad since the reorganization of WCoP. Do you fear that there is talent that's gone unnoticed, or do you feel confident you have the best players of the region available?
ABR
We spent a lot of time contemplating our roster decisions this year, probably more than we ever have. There's a healthy mix of both knowledgeable older players and new roster additions, ideally striking the healthy balance needed to win.
teal
NE's management has largely been hands off for years, trusting the players in preparation and approach. Will this continue into this World Cup, or will management be taking a firmer hand with the players?
ABR
Trust will remain, and it's not really in our culture to be overly firm or authoritative in preparation. If someone is planning something that others don't approve of, they'll be fully honest about that disapproval and there won't be any sugarcoating. Of course if individual slots want more active assistance in getting ready for their games then there's plenty of people to get that from.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
clean
SV OU. This has been our strongest tier for a couple seasons now.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
clean
Personal answer for me, but US Midwest. It's been shameful to sit on the sidelines and watch such a fraudulent team outperform South for the past two seasons. History will not be repeating itself in 2025.
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
clean
None in particular. The standard answer is it would be nice to avoid all the “strongest players”, but I generally think it evens out for most teams in the pools process. We will have to beat some strong players to make it through—and I'm confident we have the ability to do so.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
clean
I'd say morale is as high as it's been since I've been a part of the team (since 2023). The chat has been relatively active with brainstorming ideas ahead of the tour—but it's generally been pretty relaxed. The real grind will start once pools are revealed.
teal
South is often considered to have gotten the "lesser" parts of the former US East, including a dearth of legacy players from the split. How has that informed South's approach to building rosters?
clean
So I'm definitely not qualified to answer this question, but I'll do my best from my perspective. I don't even know who exactly the “lesser” players are that we got from the split, but that era feels very far in the past. In my opinion, I think South is in a much stronger position than NE, especially in the SV era. Dave can fact-check me on this, but I don't think anyone on the current South roster ever played on East. To kind of the answer the second part—I think it's very important to do your due diligence on every signup. In SV especially, one of the best litmus tests of a player's success is their performance on ladder. In fact, it's probably the first thing I check when evaluating a signup from someone I'm not familiar with.
teal
South has been struggling to replicate its championship run in 2021 for a few years now. What is the team doing differently this year to get back into the playoffs?
clean
Speaking on 2023 and 2024—South had some issues with activity and motivation. A big point of focus for us this year was making sure everyone we rostered was going to be active and involved with the team. I believe the play has always been there—last year especially I think we were good enough to compete for a trophy despite our shortcomings. With that being said, I think 2025 is definitely the strongest South roster I've been a part of—and I'm confident in our ability to compete with any team in the tournament.
teal
What tier(s) does your roster feel most confident in going into the tournament?
shiloh
We're feeling strongest in SV OU; last year we kicked things off with an 11-2 start and wrapped up 16-6, and we're looking to build on that momentum. While Vert has stepped into a managing role, we've bolstered the lineup with Attribute in SV and OST champion Fusien, both bringing a mix of creativity and consistent high-level play.
We're also excited about our rookies: Frito in Ubers and Kustavan in SM. Last year, first-timers vivalospride and Ruffles proved themselves and are back in the starting lineup, and we're confident Frito and Kustavan can follow a similar path, given their recent showings. The one question mark is SS OU. We've kept z0mOG in the slot, not exactly by the rest of the team's choice, but we're hoping his 0-3 start becomes a rallying point for the team to push harder in pools.
teal
Aside from all of them, which teams are you specifically hoping to beat this WCoP?
shiloh
Even though its been a bit one sided lately, East vs West is the WCoP rivalry that will stand against time (fuck you lax). We obviously meet in pools every year, but this rivalry also has been some of the most intense playoff series that both teams have had to go through in the years past. There's no rivalry that's more exciting, and there's probably been no rivalry that has ended up with more bans and banter. While it definitely has gotten toned down since the shift from East to Northeast (mirroring the number of trophies they've won), it's still a matchup we always hope we can see, since it's so much fun for all of those involved
teal
What player(s) are you most wanting to avoid in pools?
shiloh
We're not really thinking about that. WCoP has always been unpredictable, and we've always been prepared to face whoever comes our way. It doesn't matter who we're paired with in pools or playoffs, we're focused on playing our hardest and winning with the road that we're given. We've done it before, and I'm confident we can show our hard work again this year.
teal
How is morale and team spirit looking as the start of the tournament approaches? Are you guys already building and testing or taking a more relaxed approach?
shiloh
Morale and team spirit are high, as we know we can improve from last year, and if some things had gone our way in the semis we could have easily taken it all in the end. This is another year for us to retool and show improvement after our disappointing year last year. One thing that is important in WCoP is to always be improving and upgrading the roster as much as possible, and going into the tournament we knew we had a few slots that we wanted to fill with new blood. Through tryouts we were able to find Kustavan and Frito, both of whom have been playing excellently in side tours lately and can hopefully join us to get over the hump and win this tournament again.
Team morale is high, and we're coming in hungry and motivated. Last year didn't end the way we wanted, but we know how close we were. A few things go differently in semis, and we might've been the ones holding the trophy. So this year is about sharpening the edges, upgrading where we can, and pushing for a stronger finish. One of the keys to success in WCoP is never standing still, and we knew coming into the season that a couple of slots needed fresh energy. Tryouts helped us find just that in Kustavan and Frito, two players who've been on a tear in side tours and are more than ready for the main stage.
teal
US West usually seems very in tune with one another, with formal leadership maybe not as important as it is for some other teams. Inside the team, though, who are the leaders? Who does the team turn to for guidance?
shiloh
It's hard to point to just one or two leaders, since a lot of us have been around for 5+ years and bring valuable playoff experience to the table since West rarely misses the playoffs, and that consistency helps everyone grow. We've always tried to build an environment where anyone can step up, contribute, and shine, regardless of role or tenure. That said, a lot of credit goes to the veteran leadership of the past with players like Philip7086, undisputed, ben gay, and others that helped shape what West is today. Even though they've retired, the standard they set still guides us, and it's something the current group of managers and longtime players tries to carry forward.
We've still got several members from the 2019 winning team on the roster in ima, z0mOG, Meru, and shiloh, all of whom bring a ton of experience and can step into leadership roles when needed. (Technically emforbes was there too, but he had 0 lines the entire tour, so we're not really counting that (fraud trophy.)) All in all, it's a team where leadership is shared, and everyone knows what it takes to win.
Even then when we say all that, this year, the person the team really rallies around is Vert. After taking a break a few years ago, he stormed back onto the SV OU scene and has been the biggest reason for our success over the past couple years. He's had to deal with some tough situations outside of Smogon, but he's back as for now, and if there's one thing driving this team, it's getting Vert the WCoP trophy he deserves.
teal
What is the biggest misconception the Smogon world has about US West? What do you want to change in the eyes of the audience this year?
shiloh
Honestly, I'm not sure there are many misconceptions about US West, our record mostly speaks for itself. We've made playoffs or at least a tiebreak in 11 of the last 13 WCoPs, and we've been one of the most consistent and successful teams in that span, with two titles to show for it. That said, it's been a few years since our last win in 2019, back when the old format was still in place. And while no team has managed to repeat as champs since then, we're aiming to be the first to break that trend. We want to remind people that West still has what it takes to go the distance and win it all, and our best days are in front of us, and not behind.
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