Carrying your country on your shoulders: The history of international Rocket League

One of the most prominent ways that any organization garners a fanbase in sports is through proximity. Location, location, location. Born in Newcastle? Time to reminisce about the 1920s. Born in Cincinnati? Take me back to the Big Red Machine in the 80s. In the online world of esports, you don’t have that option.

Sure, over the years we’ve had our share of city-based organizations. Your Pioneers or Phoenix of the world. French fans typically root for French-based organizations founded by French-base streamers. But typically, you pick a team off of literally anything else other than proximity. It’s just the way it goes on an online based sport.

The FIFAe World Cup has put an end to that pattern, bringing an annual competition where players take a break from the respective clubs to rep something more close to home: their country. With the Esports Nations Cup slated to join Rocket League as well, it seems as if we’re in for a double dosage of national teams duking it out in Rocket League.

So why now? Why didn’t they think to do this before the turn of the decade? Well as a matter of fact, there have been national team competitions dating back to 2017.

The League of Rockets World Cup

While you may not be familiar, a lot of early members of the Rocket League Esports familiar are well aware of League of Rockets, or LOR.

LOR was a content creator that was responsible for hosting the massive 1v1 tournament, The Twelve Titans, and The World Cup 2017.

LOR’s World Cup was the first notable international event to feature top-tier players representing their countries. It is worth noting that this tournament did not have series. Each match was a single game, best of 1.

The 16 countries were split into 4 groups of 4. In Group A, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. In Group B, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. In Group C, France, England, Italy, and Scotland. Finally, in Group D, Finland, Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Let’s go over some of the key rosters. Break out those fidget spinners and queue up Despacito, because we’re going back in time to 2017.

Brazil: CaioTG1, FireFoxD, Haberkamper

Canada: JKnaps, Timi, Squishymuffinz

Denmark: Maestro, Snaski, Pwndx

England: Bluey, Deevo, Doomsee

Finland: Fairy Peak, Kaydop, Mout

Germany: Paschy90, FreaKii, Sikii

Netherlands: Remkoe, Nielskoek, ViolentPanda

Scotland: Markydooda, Scrub Killa, Miztik

Sweden: Al0t, Turbopolsa, Flarke

United States: Fireburner, GarrettG, Kronovi

The Tournament

If you went by current countries and their representative players, I’m sure you could predict most of the teams advancing out of the group stage.

The U.S. and Canada would probably be the two teams making it out of Group B, although Australia would definitely have something to say about it.

France and England would be dominant in Group C. Group A would be a bit puzzling, as a lot of the nations listed aren’t that good in 2026.

Denmark would probably have a say at it, with Nico, Ejby, and TempoH. Not a lot of representatives of note would be playing for Sweden, Norway, or Switzerland, however.

Luckily for the 2017 Swedes, they had Turbopolsa and Al0t. The Danes laid claim to then RLCS players Maestro and Snaski. Switzerland had Skyline and Continuum, and Norway had Greazy.

In a tightly contested group, the Danes went 3-0, while the other three each won a single series, and lost the other two. By sheer luck and tiebreaker points, the Swedes headed to the playoffs.

The U.S. and Canada capitalized off the bad ping to top their group, as expected. France and England did the same. Out of Group D, however, the Germans and Dutch failed to escape the preliminary stage. Instead, it was a pre-RLCS Brazil and Finland of all countries that advanced out of their quadrant.

For those of you unfamiliar, Finland was a powerhouse in these days. On this iteration of the national team, the Fins laid claim to Jhzer, Mognus, and Metsanauris, players that even newer fans may have heard of.

The playoffs were set. France clashed with Canada and took the win 2-1. Finland crushed Sweden 4-1 after netting 3 goals in the first minute and a half of the game.

Denmark snuck by Brazil, and such a close game was a huge sign of things to come for the South American region.

In the final quarterfinal, the Americans took down England 3-2, marking the United States biggest win in any form of football against the English since they won 1-1 in the 2010 World Cup.

Finland snuck past the now powerhouses of international Rocket League, France, 3-2, while the U.S. outlasted Denmark 2-1 to make it to the final.

The Americans struck first after GarrettG picked off a clear at midfield and sent it to Kronovi who was waiting on the backwall. The Mountain angled it into the Blue net for the early lead.

Kronovi went to contest a ball careening toward the box but it was cleared away so he adjusted for a mid-air bump on the last defender. Jhzer was left dangling in mid-air in the box and Garrett capitalized to double the lead. Off the kickoff, Jhzer dimed up Metsa and just like that, the Fins pulled back within one.

20 seconds later, GarrettG forced a double commit as he sent the ball into the blue corner, and got a second touch to beat the last defender. Fireburner pounced and extended the lead of the Americans back to two.

The two squads were in a stalemate for practically rest of the game, and Finland found themselves in a must score situation with the ball pinned in their own half. Suddenly, the ball popped free, but right into the car of GarrettG who promptly slotted it back post to put the final nail in the coffin.

The United States had won the 2017 League of Rockets World Cup, the first big-time international competition in the history of the esport.

2021 Intel World Open

With the entire world trying to rebound from the effects of the COVID pandemic, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics teamed up with Intel to create the Intel World Open.

The IWO, which was supported by the official International Olympic Committee, was an international tournament that brought the return of the National team format back to Rocket League, as well as Street Fighter.

Pandemic regulations were still wide-spread around this time so the tournaments were held online, and split into 4 different regions. The Americas, which included North, Central, and South America.

EMEA, which included Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Asia Mainland, which covered Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Finally, Asia Maritime and Oceania, which contained New Zealand, Australia, and Indonesia.

Within each region, the teams were split further into either smaller regions or countries and would participate in Open and Closed Qualifiers to make their way to their respective main events.

Teams like the Netherlands and Spain, for example, had to compete in the Europe West qualifier. More successful nationalities like the United Kingdom and France had their own closed qualifier to decide who would represent that country.

The Americas

Eight different teams qualified for the Americas Regional Finals. Argentina was represented by Ajg, Shad, and Szaro.

Brazil had Aztromick, Snipjz, and Yanxnz in their corner. Canada was represented by Squishy, Allushin, and Jknaps.

Reysbull, Davitrox, and PAN played under the Chilean flag. Mexico selected Ness, Sebs, and Coke, and the United States was led by former 2017 World Cup winner GarrettG, along with Firstkiller and Chicago.

Uruguay and Puerto Rico also qualified, but didn’t have the same RLCS power as the rest of the squads.

The eight nations were split into two groups. Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Puerto Rico in Group A, and Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and Uruguay in Group B.

The groups mostly shook out as expected, with exception to Team Mexico going 2-1 in their group to make it to the playoffs. Most fans had Chile advancing, but Mexico was able to emerge victorious in a game 5 thriller over Reysbull and company in their opening match.

Joining Mexico in the playoffs were Canada, Brazil, and an undefeated United States team. The U.S. carried that undefeated streak to the finals with sweeps over Canada and Brazil before falling to the Canadians in sweep fashion.

In the bracket reset series however, the U.S. won 3-0 and clinched the IWO Americas Regional Championship.

Brazil finished 3rd, and Mexico finished 4th.

EMEA

Qualifying for the EMEA finals were South Africa (Snowyy, Daarth, cpZebra), Czechia (Nalmon, Syracks, Lauty), Norway (FiremanJonas, Seeb, Inferno), Netherlands (Mikeboy, ThO, Oaly), Saudi Arabia (Ahmad, Senzo, oKhaliD), the United Kingdom (Deevo, Archie, Noly), France (Fairy Peak, Kaydop, Alpha54), and Germany (Rizex45, Tox, Catalysm).

The UK headlined Group A alongside Norway, Czechia, and South Africa. France led a tough Group B with the Netherlands, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

Despite having a strong team, the Saudis fell victim to bad ping and bowed out of their group in last place. If only they had another international event to get their revenge…

France went 3-0 in series and the Netherlands went 2-1 to make it to the playoffs. The United Kingdom recorded three sweeps en route to the playoffs, and Norway took a 2-1 record through Group A and into the top 4.

The Dutch quickly brought the United Kingdom’s undefeated game streak to a screeching halt, taking them down in four games in which they outlasted the Brits in a 7 minute-plus overtime in game 4.

France took care of business of Norway and the Netherlands to advance to the Grand Finals. In Lowers, the UK swept Norway out of the tournament, but couldn’t avenge their loss against the Dutch, this time losing in game 5. Unlike in the Americas regional, however, this region didn’t require a bracket reset.

France beat the Netherlands 3-1 and were crowned IWO EMEA Regional Champions.

Asia and Oceania

Unlike the other two regions, both of the Asia and Oceanic regions only had four teams in each Regional Finals.

Asia Mainland had two Singaporean teams, one Japanese squad, and one Malaysian team. The Japanese were represented by legend ReaLize, Maru, and Tenhow. The more relevant of the Singaporean squads had LCT, Maxeew, and Ballerrees in tow, and the Malaysian men included Misty, Blue, and BunnyDummy.

Japan went untouched in groups to earn the double bye into the Grand Finals. Singapore B, which was funnily enough the country’s definitive “A-Team,” earned the single bye, and Malaysia and Singapore A faced off in the first round.

Malaysia won in five games before losing to Singapore B in the semifinal, and Japan fended off a reverse sweep bid from the Singaporeans to win the Asia Mainland Regional Championship.

In the Asia Maritime region, Australia, New Zealand, and two different Indonesian squads did battle for their respective IWO crown.

The Aussies and Kiwis went #1 and #2 in their groups as expected, but didn’t clash in the finals.

Indonesia A, a roster constructed of Ripoopi, Ficeo, and Gon, swept CJM, Kamii, and Spraat.

Now if you’re not familiar with APAC this may come as a shock, but at the time, these guys were consistent playoff contenders in the APAC South Region.

Ripoopi even had a top 6 placement int he 2026 RLCS Season and is still representing Indonesia to this day.

Indonesia A packed their best punch in their Grand Final tilt against Amphis, Express, and Torsos, but it only went so far. Australia were champions of the IWO Asia Maritime and Oceania region.

FIFAe World Cup

3 years went by with the Rocket League Esports fanbase itching for another National Team competition. Then, in 2024, FIFAe came knocking.

FIFAe announced that they would be hosting a Rocket League tournament for the first time ever, and they selected the top 16 best nations in Rocket League and had the federations pick their rosters.

The nations were then split into two groups of 8, and would play two game series, leaving the possibility for a draw.

Competing in Group A: Australia, England, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.

Competing in Group B: Argentina, United States, Portugal, France, Turkey, Chile, Morocco, and Brazil.

Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Belgium all comfortably advanced from Group A, and the final playoff spot came down to England and Spain. England trailed Spain by two points, and needed a win and a Spain draw or loss to advance. Spain needed a win or an England loss.

Luckily for England, however, they were matched up against South Africa, who were entering the final match of the Group Stage with an 0-1-12 record, only drawing with Australia.

They took game 1 comfortably, 7-0, and Spain dropped their first game to Belgium. All England had to do now was take a second game off of the RSA. For whatever reason though, England just couldn’t score.

It could have been complacency, or maybe the South Africans just stepped it up, but whatever the reason, South Africa held on to win game 2 by one goal. England’s golden opportunity slipped away, and Spain pounced on the final playoff spot from Group A.