CDL Announces Official Black Ops 7 Kickoff Tournament

The Call of Duty League is opening the Black Ops 7 season with a bang, announcing a 16-team kickoff tournament featuring all 12 CDL franchises and four of the top amateur teams in the world. Set for November 22nd and 23rd, the event will serve as the first official showcase of BO7 competition and is backed by a $75,000 prize pool. The tournament will be streamed live on both YouTube and Twitch, giving fans the broadest viewing access the CDL has offered in years.

The four amateur teams earning direct invitations (Bush Gaming, Team WaR, OMiT, and Stallions) represent the strongest and most consistent contenders in the Challengers ecosystem. Their inclusion adds an extra layer of unpredictability, with several lineups already viewed as capable of taking maps and series off CDL opponents.

📸 Photo by @CODLeague

The invitational format brings all 16 teams together in a single event, creating an early proving ground for offseason rosters and a rare pros-vs-amateurs showcase under the official CDL banner. The exact tournament format & schedule have not been released yet, but will be public soon.

Sponsored by Monster Energy, the two-day kickoff will give fans their first real look at how teams adapt to Black Ops 7, the new Overload game mode, and the fresh map pool. With new rosters, new systems, and a strengthened amateur presence, this event is poised to set the tone for one of the most competitive seasons in recent CDL history.