Street Fighter League Europe is back—$100k on the line and one brutal rule changes everything

Street Fighter’s Champions League is back-and the format is savage

If you only tune into one Street Fighter 6 event this week, make it this one. Street Fighter League Pro‑Europe returns Nov 22-29 for its fifth edition, pulling six squads from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa into a week-long gauntlet for $100,000 and a slot at the SFL world championship. The money’s big, the names are bigger-but it’s the league’s home/away format that really flips matches on their head.

Capcom teased this comeback at EVO France in Nice, and now it’s here. As someone who’s followed SFL since the Japanese seasons, this is the team league that actually captures what makes fighting games dramatic: player order gambles, matchup traps, and the constant threat of a pocket pick derailing a sure thing.

Key takeaways

• Six four‑player teams from EMEA play a double round robin, then playoffs-all across Nov 22-29.
• Unique format: the away team locks its player order and characters first; the home team counters live.
• France rolls deep with two teams (Aegis and Solary); defending champs Ninjas in Pyjamas return; MOUZ, Wolves, and Goliath fill out a stacked field.
• Winner bags $100,000 and a ticket to the SFL world championship. Streams run on Capcom’s Capcomfighters Twitch channel.

Teams to watch (and why they matter)

This year’s lineup is spicy because it blends established killers with regional specialists who thrive in team formats. Here’s the quick scouting report from a fan who’s been burned by last‑minute counterpicks more than once:

• Ninjas in Pyjamas (defending champions): Phenom, JuicyJoe, AngryBird, BigBird. The “Bird” duo are proven big‑stage operators, Phenom is a rock in long sets, and NiP’s chemistry is real. On paper, they’re the team to beat.
• Team Aegis (France): MisterCrimson, Kilzyou, Valmaster, Gamein. A legit mix of styles and tournament experience. MisterCrimson is an adaptation machine and Kilzyou’s Capcom Cup ticket says plenty about his current form.
• Team Solary (France): Akainu, HeyyPepito, Senor Power, vWsym. Solary’s strength is depth—no easy outs, and they love to force you into awkward matchups late.
• MOUZ (Germany): Problem X, EndingWalker, Lexx, [team rounded out by MOUZ talent]. Problem X brings world‑class counterprep and EndingWalker is a momentum monster—perfect for punishing away teams that misorder.
• Wolves Esports (UK): Takamura, Hurricane, Infexious, Kusanagi. A terrifying balance of aggression and labwork; Wolves can flip a set the moment they get home advantage.
• Goliath Gaming (Africa): JabhiM, ChuX, JoKeR JoKeZ, MarkTheShark. Don’t sleep here—JabhiM put his name on the map upsetting Tokido at a Red Bull Kumite, and that upset energy plays great in a league format.

The brutal rule that changes everything

Here’s why SFL’s structure hits different: every team match is a series of sets worth different point values. The away team must declare its player order and characters up front. The home team then responds round‑by‑round, hand‑picking counters and saving anchors for the juiciest points. It’s not just “who’s the best player”—it’s “who can weaponize their roster at the right time.”

That means you’ll see calculated sacrifices and deliberate matchup fishing. Away sides might lead with a “safe” pick to scout, then hold their ace for the big‑value set—only to watch the home team stash a nightmare counter until the final moment. If you love the mind games around character select, this is basically an hour of pure stress.

After every team has played each other twice, the top four advance: first place goes straight to the Grand Final, second to semis, third and fourth to quarters. Seeding is huge. If NiP lock first, that’s a free pass to Sunday punches while everyone else fights through hell.

Why this matters now for Street Fighter 6

We’re deep into SF6’s second‑year meta, and team leagues tell you more than open brackets do. You see the pocket characters that never appear in a Sunday Top 8. You see who actually has matchup depth when a coach whispers “they’re countering Ken—are you ready for Plan B?” And you see which regions have leveled up beyond their usual heroes.

Europe and the Middle East have been a force since SF6 launched—AngryBird’s rise, BigBird’s consistency, the UK’s lab monsters, France’s production line of killers. Bringing Africa into the mix widens the talent map and, honestly, makes the league more fun. Upsets hit harder when they’re not just player vs. player, but plan vs. plan.

What to expect—and who might take it

Expect momentum to matter. This is a compressed, week‑long run; form swings fast, and a bad first day can snowball in a double round robin. NiP should be favorites—experience, synergy, and players who don’t blink. MOUZ have the nastiest counterprep potential. Wolves feel like the team most likely to snipe a top seed with a perfectly timed home match.

The wildcards are France’s two squads. Aegis has the veteran savvy to grind out point‑heavy sets; Solary’s depth makes them a nightmare as the home team. And if you want a chaos pick, circle any Goliath match where they’re at home—JabhiM can tilt a whole series with a single read.

that said you slice it, this is the best way to watch high‑level SF6 without getting lost in a 512‑player bracket. It’s tight, it’s tactical, and every decision is on camera. Catch it live on the Capcomfighters Twitch channel all week and watch the counterpicks fly.

TL;DR

Street Fighter League Pro‑Europe runs Nov 22-29 with six EMEA teams, $100,000 on the table, and a world championship slot for the winner. The home/away rule—away locks order and characters, home counters live—turns every match into a strategy puzzle. NiP are favorites, but France’s squads, MOUZ, and Wolves can absolutely steal it.