World Cup of Pokémon 2025 Qualifying Round: Captain Interviews
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Logo by Pissog.
While everyone in Pokémon knows about the heights of the World Cup, fewer are aware that some teams are undergoing a long and arduous path to even stand in the competition. This year, fifteen teams have lined up to vie for qualification in the world's oldest continuous Pokémon team tournament. Some are countries that have been here before, and think that they're taking back their rightful place. Others are countries that have little hype or momentum, and are looking to change the narrative. No matter where any of these players are from, though, they'll be giving it their all in order to get out of this phase and meet the big dogs.
In this article, we'll review our conversations with the leaders of the qualifying teams. What do they think about their atmosphere? Who's scalp are they after the most? What players should we watch out for? Take a chance to read through these discussions and get a feel for the ethos and spirit of each of the teams, because one of them may very well surprise you in the main competition before too long.
| Click on the buttons to read the team captains' interviews! | ||||
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
UltiNooba
Our team's history is getting some of our players stolen by Team Europe and some others being kept from playing by the hosts. Our identity is having hunger for victory and always performing above the expectations, with the power of friendship.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
UltiNooba
Our whole team. Half of our players will be playing their first WCoP, and we are looking to show to the entire community that we've got some good talents.
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
UltiNooba
All of them, specially the "big dogs" like Spain and UK.
teal
Last year was Portugal's first time in WCoP, so you may not have the same established team dynamics as more storied nations. How has team chemistry been—is everyone getting along or still sort of feeling each other out?
UltiNooba
Our team chemistry is good, everyone is on the same page and always willing to help each other, probably better than last year.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
haxlolo
So, we've been constantly competing in qualifiers, sometimes getting closer to it than others (we lost to France in a fight for the last main event slot, and they went on to win the tournament, unlucky). But this time, we've finally decided to let new blood manage the team, so hopefully this makes enough of a change to get us through!
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
haxlolo
I wouldn't exactly call him lesser known to the ORAS community, but for the general public, you guys should definitely be on the lookout for our GOAT Destro16. No specific reason :)
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
haxlolo
Of course the main competition are the teams that got relegated from last year, but if we can't count those, probably Latin America for the same-ish reasons? All of them have bigger names compared to most other qualifying countries.
Maia
There were some concerns from smaller teams about last year's format shift making it difficult to field a roster. As a smaller team that's been playing qualifiers for a while, how have you been adjusting to the new tiers and how do you feel about facing bigger names in these tiers if you make it to the main stage?
haxlolo
For us, it was sort of good, actually? Most of us were not actually that accustomed to current generation OverUsed, so it let us put people on their better tiers, and I think that if we qualify on any format, it's this one. About facing big names? Well, if Chile could pull it off, we can only pray we do the same if we make it. Who doesn't love an underdog story?
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Akaru Kokuyo
Our team was formed all the way back in WCoP IV, having a couple of ups and downs, most noticeably in 2019-2021, when we made playoffs every time but weren't able to acquire the glory. In 2022 we had a complete change of managers, which resulted in not good results. 2023 was the worst performance we've had, going back to qualifiers phase, and in 2024 we had all to go back to established teams, but we got cocky and flopped the tournament in an embarrassing way. We've learned from these mistakes. We will not repeat them. We will rise again.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Akaru Kokuyo
I think the mains to watch for this year are One Last Kiss, Luirromen and Tempo di anguria. The first two might not be that less known, since they've played SPL and SCL, but they haven't been given that many chances to prove themselves in very high-level matches. The latter has showed his skill in circuits like National Dex and team tournaments like OUPL but hasn't tasted the big spotlight just yet. I think they all will do fine!
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Akaru Kokuyo
I think Spain, UK, and Asia are probably the most dangerous teams in this phase. We will prepare extra hard vs them, but we're not looking down on the rest of the teams, since year after year one of the "black sheep" teams have proven they have a lot of potential and can climb pretty high.
teal
With LatAm being run by veterans, what are you doing to keep an eye on the burgeoning talent available to your team? What qualities are you looking for in a new player?
Akaru Kokuyo
Well, like with most teams in the majority of tournaments, the people that reach out to us give us an easier time to evaluate them (in replays, live tryouts, etc.). We've also checked several tournaments to try and spot someone that maybe didn't sign up and is able to play for us. We mainly look for activity, game knowledge (for whatever tier they try out), and willingness to improve.
teal
Are there challenges to running a regional team, especially one so ripe for breakoff teams?
Akaru Kokuyo
Yes, a lot. Precisely because nowadays there are so many countries from LA forming their own team, each year it gets harder to get newer players to join to the team. We are, however, positive about our current lineup and expect to do well this year!
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
SpaceSpeakers
Hi, I'm SpaceSpeakers—the manager of this year's Vietnam team. In terms of WCoP, this is our team's first year participating in this world-class tournament. Vietnam is one of the newer and emerging teams in the World Cup of Pokémon scene, and while we don't have the same deep-rooted legacy as some of the older teams like the US and Europe, we have done our best by winning/going far in a few OU Trios tours or playing in multiple team tours on Smogon. The initial appearances were mostly for experience, but our team has started to show signs of promise—going from group stage underdogs to dark horse contenders. Often underestimated by the larger scene, Vietnam has taken on the underdog role—playing with a chip on their shoulder and wanting to prove we can stand up to the best.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
SpaceSpeakers
And of course there are some very good players on our team that people do not recognize, since they do not use Smogon too often, such as pkcc, Blazing, Ultraman1, and so on This year is their time to shine hopefully. Our opponents should be worried about them <3
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
SpaceSpeakers
As a new rising team to WCoP, every other team is a threat to us, but that doesn't mean we should give up. We don't care how strong their team is, when we are in a battle, both have six 'mons to play, no one has an better advantage and I always believe in my players. However, if I had to say, I would love to beat team Austria, because my best friend is on this team. There are also big teams like UK, Asia, Argentina, and so on.
Maia
As a new and small team entering the tournament, what would you consider to be a successful season? Are sights set on the trophy, or is there a longer term plan in place?
SpaceSpeakers
For a newer and smaller team, success isn't necessarily about winning it all yet. Instead, it's about:
- Putting up close sets against established teams.
- Qualifying from the group stage (or getting very close).
- Improving week to week, both in play and in prep.
- Establishing legitimacy in the eyes of the wider community—earning respect from top-tier opponents is huge.
- Building confidence internally—proving to themselves they belong.
While the trophy may not be in immediate reach, most smaller national teams have a 3–5 year plan that looks like this:
- Develop a strong core of consistent starters with WCoP experience.
- Scout and develop talent from within the local or diaspora ladder scene.
- Stabilize team management with structure, schedules, scouting, and prep routines.
- Cultivate national pride—WCoP is often as much about identity and community as it is about results.
- Push for playoffs consistently, then go deeper with each new generation.
Every team dreams of the trophy—but for Team Vietnam right now, the trophy is aspirational, not the expectation. That said, don't be surprised if in a few years, once they've built chemistry and expanded their roster depth, they become a playoff staple and eventually a real contender.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Elian
We are not exactly new, but it feels like we are on the right track to gain the identity we would like for ourselves. There has been a restructured game plan that includes a more organized and focused emphasis on detail for this World Cup than before. Team Mexico would like to be known as warriors who are hungry to become regulars in the main event. Progress is everything for us, and as long as we do better than previous years, we cannot be upset with the outcome; our players have to take it upon themselves to initiate great success.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Elian
We have quite a few players ready to take on the responsibilities that come with being a known player. In our opinion there are a handful of players that deserve more recognition starting with ZeroKitts, A very patient SM player who is versatile and can sneak victories vs some of the best. Ikaishi as well, with SS being his strongest tier. He doesn't shy away from going toe to toe vs the best. That's the Mexican warrior spirit. JeoZ is another name that comes to mind. When he gets going on a consistent level, the sky is the limit. These three we would say have a giant ceiling of potential.
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Elian
We actually hate quite a few countries, they are all opponents. They can all catch these hands any time anywhere. Mostly the countries in our qualifying pool. We would like to maintain a competitive spirit and go down swinging. Win or Lose.
Maia
Mexico has some fireballs on the roster—how is the team chemistry? Is everyone pulling in the same direction, or are there rivalries spurring on the players within the team?
Elian
Mexico chemistry is going in a good direction, we all understand the assignment ahead and know when to try hard and when to banter. We wouldn't say there are internal rivalries, but more rivalries within ourselves to push for greater heights. Pokémon players can sometimes be their own worst enemy, but instilling a strong mental mindset in our players this will be the catalyst to our success.
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Caesarr
This is our fourth year in WCoP, and it's the best-prepared one so far. In the beginning, we just aimed to fill the roster and laugh off the disastrous performances of 2022 and 2023. However, WCoP 2024 felt different: we knew what we were capable of. Some players stood out, but we were just one win away from a qualifier tiebreak. This year, we have more experience and are motivated to make it to the main stage.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Caesarr
Without a doubt, ApacheRomero and Shion are the most experienced players on big stages, so we're sure they will be pleasing to watch.
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Caesarr
Spain, Latin America, the United Kingdom, and Bangladesh are definitely our main rivals.
teal
Venezuela enters the tournament without much experience in the squad. Do you expect that to be a positive, as the others might underestimate you, and are you concerned about your players rising to the occasion?
Caesarr
Yes, we're aware of the lack of experience, but we will do our best to qualify for the Main Stage, just as many of our players have done before in tournaments like PUWC and UUWC in 2024
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Xboy
In short, we started off as a Facebook group in 2012 with a handful of players interested in competitive Pokémon. Over time, that group evolved into a close-knit team. We have come a long way since then, consistently qualifying the last two years with our 'Joy Bangla' motto, prioritizing the joy of the game over all else.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Xboy
Our players have recently stepped up their game, both on ladder and Smogon tours. Among the familiar and new faces, inertialinitiative, Calambrito, and Raiyan (not the guy without the 3DS) should bring exciting gameplay for everyone.
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Xboy
We approach every team with respect, but there are definitely some powerhouses in the qualifiers like Asia, UK, LatAm, and Spain.
teal
Bangladesh has been one of Smogon's underdog stories in WCoP, and a lot of people are rooting for you. How is the team planning to make the push into being a main event mainstay?
Xboy
The support from the Smogon community and other teams has been incredible, and it's really motivated our players to put in serious work in Smogon tours. Plus, we recently hosted our first BDPL on Smogon, which was a huge step. While we know there's still a lot to do, WCoP is a tournament our community cares about and has been looking to be ready for.
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Quinn
We participated in 2019 and '24. '19 we almost made main stage coming one game short against team Asia. In 2024 Drud, ojr, and me wanted to revive team Netherlands, without the results we liked to see, and try to qualify this year.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Quinn
axzel is a promising player, winning the first weekly STour of this year.
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Quinn
We focus on our team and try to get the best results possible with our team and don't really focus on what other teams do, so I couldn't tell you who is good and who is not. If we play well and win, that's what matters, and that can be vs SoulWind or Magikarpcatcher123.
teal
Obviously Team Netherlands finished at the very bottom of the qualifiers last year. What sort of strategies have you guys been working on to avoid that happening again?
Quinn
Last year we lost many games due to lack of meta knowledge; we had good teams, but if you don't know how to use them it's not going to work. This year we will enforce more activity from our players within their tiers so that won't happen again.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
cryptbloom
Team Korea's main focus has always been has always remained the same: to foster a friendly and supportive competitive environment in which all of us can enjoy ourselves. While it would be amazing to qualify for the main tour, at the end of the day, we all play this game to have fun. With no expectations on our back, the stage is set perfectly for us to be creative and have fun with our teams and games, and possibly provide a nice gateway team tour experience for aspiring new players.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
cryptbloom
Most of our players fall into this category, but we are all ready to surprise! Our most promising new players are probably Dulcinea and lawlpaca, who bring lots of experience, where dulcinea had been playing rated Pokémon 7 years to great success, including reaching 2000 ELO in BSS, and lawlpaca is a veteran at old gens, where his playstyle is very precise but he can also make surprising moves when he's in a tight spot; both have also been steadily improving since then. Don't be surprised when you see them take games from established players!
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
cryptbloom
… the Netherlands??? lol idk
Maia
There's been a big shakeup in the South Korea management recently. How does the team plan to cope with this going forward?
cryptbloom
South Korea's roster as a whole has seen massive changes from last year, but with core members from previous years returning, as well as several promising new players, the team is more than prepared to overcome this setback. As returning starters from last year, our new captains cryptbloom and Xerneas9050 are more than ready to take up the mantle, and are working tirelessly to help our players get up to speed with their respective metagames.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Gingy
Team UK has been an institution of Smogon since the early days, where even an SPL team was once called Smogon's Greatest Brits. It has even replicated the Empire along the way, stealing Irish users for 15 years before eventually “gifting” them back to Europe whilst keeping a piece for themselves.
Previously a mainstay on the main stage, the inception of relegation really fed into the UK footballing pyramid ethos that the team have chosen to embody. Like a prime Barclay's era Bolton Wanderers, we have since yo-yoed up and down from the main stage and will be looking to get promoted once more. This time with a fresh squad that blends youth and experience, an additional co-captain in Clementine (yet another user suffering from colonial Stockholm Syndrome), and 0 investment from the San Francisco 49ers. All of this is a recipe for promotion in our books.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Gingy
Scouted from a time where we could still draw the type of young talent a top flight team requires, many of our “lesser known” academy players have developed over the year and are hoping to enjoy a breakout season. Some notable names are Baddy, Chiharu, and Cow.
Baddy has spent his offseason playing in lower divisions to gain experience wherever he can. If you have posted a tour in the past year or played in one, you have likely seen his name signed up to manage or play. He feels fit and ready to take on the challenges this season may possess with a renewed vigor.
Chiharu was another like Baddy whom we took to the main stage last year and has loyally stayed with us to help with the promotion push. Drafted in SPL but kept in the reserves, Chiharu is looking to take on some tough opponents in Masters gens this tour and come out on top in his 1v1s.
Cow on the other hand is a fresh face to the team. Having tried out last year, Cow has developed in the u21s fantastically well, and we couldn't be happier to call him up to the big stage this summer. Known primarily for his BW outings, Cow has been working on his Fairygens with coaches throughout the year. Could we see a start or just a mere cameo? We can't reveal all our lineup just yet, nor the positions every player will play.
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Gingy
It's a good list of teams in qualifiers—some strong names, some interesting flags. Spain will think they're the favorites, of course… but favorites lose all the time. We're not here to admire badges or reputations. We're here to remind people why they should've been worried about the UK from day one.
Maia
Yours is a team that's had some success in the past and has some strong players that have been with the team for a while. How do you plan to meld newcomers and the old core for a successful run?
Gingy
With ease, frankly.
Newcomers to the tour scene are, by and large, the best part of managing these tours. Experiencing a tournament unfold through their eyes is a constant reminder of what makes this scene special at times—they make friends, throw themselves into testing, help build and scout with enthusiasm, and can bring life to a team chat with their presence. Above all else, they are supremely motivated not just to compete, but to leave a lasting mark on everyone involved.
Newcomers are the heartbeat of Smogon, and their passion fuels the tour scene year after year. Our only real regret each year is being unable to add more of them to the roster. Tournament exposure is crucial to player development, and WCoP stands out as a breeding ground for turning potential into proven performance like no other tour on site.
This ethos has defined our team from its inception: that veterans support, guide, and uplift the next wave, while newcomers inject the hunger and drive that pushes the old men's wheelchairs forward. It is with pride that we can say our older core of players will have no issues helping us to get to grips with what a tour like WCoP will require of us all.
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
AhmedxWaleed
In recent years Asia has developed the reputation as being the "best of the worst," blitzing through qualifiers but struggling in the main event, a label that we want to shrug off this year. As a continental team we've dealt with a lot of turnover as of late, with countries splitting off to form new teams (to great success), and the new eligibility rules implemented for this season. Our longest tenured player now is devin (fourth season), with no one else having more than two under their belt. Despite this, each year we're usually able to identify one or two breakthrough players who become mainstays in the tours scene, and hopefully this year's new-look roster will be no different. We are a legacy team in this tournament, dominating early editions, but we've been wallowing in qualifiers, relegation, and bottom half battles for far too long—this season we plan to change that and return to those heights.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
AhmedxWaleed
Ahy Wddicted, serperiorr, weirdo faye, Kaneki-san.
Ahy Wddicted also known as WhyAd is a godlike support behind the scene and a top-tier ladder player from South Korea; he is someone who has been reached out to by past captains of team Asia and has finally blessed us with his presence. He is a top-tier SM player and an SPL player in SV OU. His builds in SV OU can be instantly recognized with their unorthodox picks that flow incredibly well when used like Slither Wing + Heatran + Galarian Weezing double Wisp fat and Boots Araquanid bulky offense. Even if the name is lesser known, with his results of helping devin get his ribbon and Empo getting his trophy, he will for sure do great this tournament. serperiorr is a ladder hero from Indonesia who some might know under his old name, someidiot19. He is known mostly for his RMT teams like his Custap Berry Serperior + Ash-Greninja HO, often reaching #1 on ladder either on main or on alts, and you can even still find players on high ladder using his teams despite him not posting an RMT too often. Despite being new, he has shown proficiency in both building and playing at the highest level, which is a good enough reason for him to start as Team Asia's SV OU.
weirdo faye is an old school (and also just old) SM OU player from Singapore from when the tier was the current gen OU. Some players might know her as a trash talker on forums, but she has had many different identities in the past, with some of her best teams still on the current SM OU sample teams. She terrorized amazing players in the past in Smogon tour and OLT with fun teams; she has beaten bbeeaa, Insult, Finchinator, Piyush, and many other top players in the past when SM OU was the current gen using cheesy teams like mono-Fire sun, Hoopa fat, and wish killer. last year she had the second best record in Team Asia of 3-2 in SM OU against a top-tier pool of bro fist, Relous, and GeniusX, with her only loss being because of forgetting Rest mechanics under Electric Terrain. With a record that great despite being extremely rusty, an unrusted weirdo faye with the support of devin and whyad is just waiting to lay the hurt on the tournament.
Kaneki is a Maki Zenin simp and a lesser-known player from Pakistan in the larger scale of Smogon. You see him play some small tournaments, maybe as a sub in a small team tour, but nothing much to write home about..... is what i would say, had I not seen how he plays recently. two years ago he was a starter in team Asia's worst year as an okay-ish player, but in those two years, he began his training arc, and after those two years his skill has become comparable to the best players in our team like devin and whyad. He has building knowledge mimicking devin and the playing skill mimicking empo, he practiced in private with some of the best players he knows, he is trying to prove his skill to not only his Pakistani peers but also Smogon as a whole. Empo says this when he watches his gameplay:
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
AhmedxWaleed
To be fair, all teams in qualifiers are our opponents, and we look at all of them as threats, but some teams have a powerful roster and should be considered more dangerous. Those are Spain, Bangladesh, and LatAm. Spain is a former WCoP winner, and this year they have a lot of old experienced players. Bangladesh is known for their qualifiers arc. LatAm's roster looks real good this year with experienced captains and new talents.
teal
Are there any difficulties in managing a regional team with the region encompassing such a big area? Do you have cultural differences inside of the team?
AhmedxWaleed
Getting everyone to be comfortable around each other, getting to know their playstyle, and getting to know how they want to build and play is definitely the hardest part of managing. Managing a large region is hard, as we need to search for a lot of players to make sure we give proper chances to talents of different countries who cant make their own team. There are many cultural differences among the players, but they put them aside when interacting, and we have a really friendly atmosphere (excluding jokes; everyone sends them according to their culture). Despite the cultural differences of every player, at the end of the day, we are here to play Pokémon and win the tournament, so the only thing that matter is if they have a good team and are winning their games.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Togeflyyy
Hello, people from around the world.
We are glad to introduce you to Guatemala, the team from our beloved country. We are the newest of the teams and are hugely excited to participate in the Smogon World Cup for the very first time.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Togeflyyy
Many of our players, such as pokerampage and LeWolffe, have experience outside of Smogon in other competitions with solid records. However, you should also take a look at Estuardo19 and miketrumpeter. Estuardo is the most well-known between them, having achieved good results in some notable tours. Then there's Mike, who is relatively new but has already surpassed our expectations in smaller competitions.
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Togeflyyy
Every team will be a tough opponent for us. We don't differentiate between countries. We're all on the same playing field, so we consider every team to be serious competition.
Maia
This is Guatemala's first year competing as its own team. What motivated you to form this year, and what about the tournament is the team most looking forward to this year?
Togeflyyy
Bringing Guatemala to the World Cup was a dream we've had for a long time. But it wasn't until now that we decided to take things seriously and begin this long-term project. Finally, we managed to form a competitive team to participate and represent our country.
Our first goal is to give our best performance and show you what we're truly capable of. Even though we have the least experience of all teams, don't expect us to hold back, let alone make it easy for anyone. Our second goal is to advance through as many phases as we can.
Maia
Do you have concerns that your team might struggle due to the smaller player pool available, especially in years to come?
Togeflyyy
At the moment, we're a team formed by committed players, and we hope to spread this spirit to others and eventually discover more hidden talents in Guatemala.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Naraku Kirigiri
Yeah, so, we haven't been around for that long, but we got heart. Perú might not have the big legacy like some of the og teams, but we grind hard. We rep the underdogs, the hungry ones tryna prove the world wrong. Every tour we come back stronger, more locked in.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Naraku Kirigiri
Oh for sure, we got a couple hidden gems. Folks ain't heard of them yet, but once they hit the stage, y'all gonna remember the names. These dudes been cooking quietly in the background, but now it's time to unleash ‘em. Sleepers fr. Beware of huarguensy.
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Naraku Kirigiri
Honestly? Lotta strong squads out there, but I'd say teams like Mexico and Chile always bring the heat. They are stacked and know how to play under pressure.
Maia
The player pool for Peru seems thin, and the management seems to be light on experience. How do you plan on getting Peru up to WCoP standards?
Naraku Kirigiri
I hear that a lot. but just cause we ain't got the numbers doesnt mean we ain't got the skill. We're tight as a unit, and everyone's putting in the work. As for management, we might be new to the scene, but we are hungry, we are learning fast, and we got that fire.
teal
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Malekith
Spain's journey started back in 2010, when Malekith, our most important community member, contacted Jackal, the main host of the tournament. Jackal was told that Spain had had a national team in the once-staple forum PokéSpain, which included classification tournaments to qualify to play for team Spain, some of which even lasted months. Since its first appearance at the main event, Spain made it three times into semifinals and once into finals, but all of them resulted in a loss against the team who would end up winning the tour. It wasn't until 2023 that this legendary nation would end up getting its first title with remarkable names in the roster such as SoulWind, Trosko, M Dragon, and Malekith himself. Spain's best players are known for being the best in their tiers in old generations, so even the team itself was unhappy with the format, but playing as exceptionally as they do gave them the glorious blue trophy.
teal
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Malekith
There are a lot of known faces from year to year that haven't been mentioned yet, including Garay oak and Luispeikou, but there are relatively new players ready to give their best. Javi started as a substitute in 2023 and played the same role the following year, but now in 2025 he's a starter. There's also Kenix, who played many years ago when he wasn't in his best form, but after his ban, his unban, and recent appearances in big tours, he's more than capable of playing in the national team.
teal
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Malekith
We don't think qualifiers should be that hard to get through; we got relegated last year because our team hadn't adapted to the new meta, unfortunate games, and it being one of the most tight first-round phases to ever happen. We've already changed our mindset to get rolling this year, and we're confident we'll make it to the main stage with ease. That said, we wish Bangladesh follows us to the main stage and we both make a great tournament.
teal
After your win in WCoP 2023, it was obviously a big shock to see Spain get relegated last year. What were some of the challenges that led to that and how are you approaching 2025's World Cup differently?
Malekith
Our players now know that we have to be more prepared in the SV OU slots. Once again, there were so many games we didn't win because fate wasn't on our side. To ensure this isn't a problem again, we're going to build better teams that along with our players' greatness we'll overcome the randomness of this game.
Maia
Can you speak a bit about your team's history and identity in WCoP?
Astoria
Despite Austria being such a small country our history in Smogon World Cup qualifiers is quite long and tragic. It all began by the end of 2017, when in the anticipation of the 2018 WCoP a few players decided to scout Smogon to find enough players from Austria. The primary driving factor behind this decision was likely the restriction preventing Austrians from joining Team Germany, despite cultural similarities. Surprisingly by the start of 2018, a small but talented group of players found each other, and it was decided that Team Austria would participate in the qualifiers of the 2018 WCoP for the first time.
The face of the team were without a doubt already established tournament players like the RBY legend Bedschibaer, mael, mj, and Za Meowdo (later known as Charmflash), who were not only able to scout new talents but train them as well. We only connected further after mael won his OST trophy after an amazing run and celebrated his win in Austrian tradition. It was a truly amazing time, and for us it felt like a blue trophy next to the yellow one was a real possibility even though the way would be a hard one.
Back then, five teams were fighting for just one spot, and after beating a strong Benelux before smashing Bangladesh without a loss we were already set for the main tournament, eager to challenge the other teams for the blue trophy. This is where our hopes were crushed after a decisive loss in the third and deciding round to team Asia. It felt unfair. We had to go through three rounds for no other reason than not having been there early enough, while Asia just had to play one round. This was arguably the start of Team Austria's downfall. The defeat was more than demoralizing, as we thought we had all it took to compete in the main tournament.
Worse was on the horizon. By the start of WCoP 2019, Charmflash and mael, the two guys who built this team from nothing, had a fallout that would spark the recurring theme of having a drama on our team year in year out. Our lineup was probably better than the year prior, but the spirit was lacking, so this time Netherlands got the better of us and we were out just by Round 1.
WCoP 2020 was not kind to us either. One of our star players was gone, and the format switched to a full current gen format, which almost none of us had played before. Our showing was disastrous, and once again we failed just in round 1.
WCoP 2021 was when Charmflash made a return to the team while mael dipped for Team Europe, as the rules back then were a bit different. Once again, we had to recruit a new wave of players into a metagame we enjoyed much more this time around. We beat a very strong Team UK but lost out vs an even stronger team Canada the next round. It was quite a wholesome year, though, and I have many fond memories including my own team betting against me.
In WCoP 2022 was quite like the year prior, since most of us still actively enjoyed the metagame and the qualifiers got expanded. I took over the team this time, and hopes were a bit higher, as we had old players returning, and I felt like we got some of the magic of 2018 back. However, I was wrong, as we still could not get mael back from Team Europe and had a fallout midseason in the team due to the Wigglytuff incident. Once again it felt like self-sabotage.
We returned once again for WCoP 2023 in an early SV meta that most of us were unfamiliar with. This time Charmflash was not able to participate and a new player, zsolt, was banned due to being an alt, with his win being nullified. This was quite a setback to us, and I mention this player with intent, as he sparked my interest and dedication for the team and the metagame that year. In the end we missed out once again.
The fondest memory of the team that I have was in summer of 2020. We decided to participate in the Draft World Cup, which was held on Discord back then. We showed up with just two Draft players and a bunch of skilled Smogon goons and won the whole tournament. This meant a lot to us back then, as we were finally able to prove ourselves even if it was not directly on Smogon.
Maia
Are there any lesser-known players on your roster this year that spectators should be excited to see on the big stage?
Astoria
I think one player to highlight is Crinchy Costanza. While he might not be a well-established name on Smogon, he's been a dedicated UU grinder for many generations. He's also played extensively with several well-known UU ladder players in the past.
Last season, he went 2-1, and I believe people should genuinely be excited to watch his games. He's much more than just a “Draft player” randomly slotted into UU, like some people mentioned. He brings real passion to the tier.
Maia
What team(s) in qualifiers this year do you view as your biggest competition?
Drachenkeule
I think the biggest teams are Spain and Latin America. Especially the Spain lineup is stacked with a lot of star power. Moreover, they won the World Cup two years ago, which shows how strong the team is. Latin America was surprising for me that they failed the qualification last year, but they still do have a lot of strong players in their lineup like Storm Zone and Gtcha.
Maia
How do the newer players on the team plan to learn from those with notable success elsewhere?
Drachenkeule
This question is quite interesting, as some of our more established players are moreso the ones that are returning from retirement and have to adapt to new tiers and metagames. However, these are also the ones who are more experienced with performing under pressure, so there is something to learn of each other for everyone. I'd say the most helpful things are test games, analyzing replays, and having general discussions about gameplay. In my opinion, the best way to learn is through consistent practice and honest self-reflection with the more experienced team players.
Maia
Austria had some difficulties last year and almost didn't get to play in qualifiers, but still made a huge push and got close to the main event. How is the team coming together after the events of 2024, and how is morale looking?
Drachenkeule
Surely, things weren't easy for us after the Charmflash drama last year. But in a way, it sparked some extra motivation within the team, especially given all the trash talk in the introduction thread and WCoP channels on the Discord Tours server. What really helped was the support and cheering we received during that tough time. Fortunately, most of the players from last year are returning this year, and we're also excited to welcome back two OG members: Astoria and Neomon.
Last year, we nearly qualified as total underdogs (the turborandoms), and that experience definitely fired us up for another run at the qualifier stage this time around, hopefully with qualifying for main stage this year. On top of that, the team chemistry is great, we even meet up and do things together in real life, which brings us closer and keeps the spirit strong.
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