The 2022 Pokémon World Championships have wrapped up, but not before Tsunekazu Ishihara, President of The Pokémon Company, shared some exciting news during the event’s closing ceremony. In addition to announcing the return of a classic Pokémon Trading Card Game play mechanic and delivering an update on Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, Mr. Ishihara also revealed the location of the 2023 Pokémon World Championships!

2022 Worlds Closing Ceremony Recap | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

The Worlds Closing Ceremony Brings New Surprises and Reveals Next Year’s Venue!

The 2022 Pokémon World Championships are in full swing, with Trainers from all over the world competing in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, Pokémon GO, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokémon UNITE at ExCeL London. Before the event, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company Tsunekazu Ishihara welcomed attendees to the excitement of Worlds and shared special news about Pokémon Masters EX and Pokémon UNITE.

2022 Worlds Opening Ceremony Recap | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Worlds Opening Ceremony Recap

It’s been more than six years since Pokémon GO launched, and at long last, a Pokémon GO World Champion will be crowned during the 2022 Pokémon World Championships in London. Pokémon GO players can watch the momentous occasion on the <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/pokemongo'>Pokémon GO Twitch channel</a> and take part in the fun with the World Championships celebration in Pokémon GO. From August 18 at 10 a.m. local time to August 23 at 8 p.m. local time World Championships 2022 Pikachu makes its Pokémon GO debut, Trainers earn triple Stardust from GO Battle League victories, and event Pokémon that can be evolved into Pokémon with special Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks will be appearing in the wild.

Celebrate the Pokémon GO World Championships | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Catch, Party, Battle with the Pokémon GO 2022 World Championships Celebration

2022 Worlds Pokémon GO T-Shirt Avatar Item | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Watch the 2022 Pokémon World Championships to get a Pokémon GO avatar item

Worlds Pokémon TCG Live Promo Card | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Watch the 2022 Pokémon World Championships for a Digital Pokémon TCG Card

Special Pokémon UNITE Distribution | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Tune In to Worlds for a Special Pokémon UNITE Distribution

Jeff Hoogland has a graduate degree in mathematics from Illinois State University, where he studied game theory, among other things. He often works as an analyst for the Pokémon UNITE Championship Series and has been an avid player of Pokémon UNITE since its release on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. He has logged over 4,000 matches of Pokémon UNITE.

2022 Pokémon UNITE World Championships Preview | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Pokémon UNITE World Championships Preview

Jesse Turnbull is a contributing writer covering Play! Pokémon events for Pokemon.com. As a fan of both Pokémon and fighting games, it makes sense that Pokkén Tournament DX is Jesse’s favorite video game. He even met his wife through their shared interest in Pokkén Tournament. Jesse can be found online at Jetsplit.

2022 Pokkén Tournament DX Worlds Preview | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Pokkén Tournament DX Worlds Preview

2022 Worlds Pokémon Commemorative Set | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Get a Pokémon TCG Coin and Marker Set at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships

<h3>Top Pokémon Approaching the World Championships</h3>

During this year’s Championship Series, we’ve seen a wide range of Pokémon used by various Trainers. While some mainstays have persisted, the metagame of the North America International Championships (NAIC) in June varied significantly from the Liverpool Regional Tournament back in March. But who are those mainstays, and how has that meta shifted throughout this series? Like any good party, six Pokémon have held the meta to some level of stability throughout these tournaments.

<h3>Pokémon GO Season Surprises and Shakeups</h3>

Ana “NHoff” Hoffman is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. She has been playing Pokémon GO since its release in 2016 and playing Trainer Battles competitively since the early days of the feature. She loves battling with less commonly seen Pokémon (like her favorite, Sandshrew) and enjoys draft formats. You can find her on Twitter at @GoddessNHoff and in-person at a Pokémon GO event near you!

Pokémon GO World Championships Preview | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Pokémon GO World Championships Preview

Stéphane Ivanoff is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. A longtime Pokémon fan, he has played the Pokémon TCG competitively since 2010 and is a former National Champion, seven-time Worlds competitor, and the 2018 and 2019 North America International Champion in the Masters Division. He studied mathematics and has a degree in Probability and Statistics, but he says that doesn't help his game as much as you'd think! You can follow him on Twitter @lubyllule.

Ellis Longhurst is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. She has been competing in high-level Pokémon TCG tournaments since 2006 and creating written content for the Pokémon community since 2011. Now she brings some Australian flavour to the Play! Pokémon commentary teams at the International and World Championships.

Tord Reklev is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. He is a longtime player from Norway, playing the game since he was 6 years old. He is notable for being the only Masters Division player to win the North America, Europe, and Oceania Internationals, and he recently made Top 4 at the World Championships. Outside of the game, he is a student and enjoys playing tennis. You can find him at most big events and can follow him on Twitter at @TordReklev.

Christopher Schemanske is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. He's been playing the Pokémon TCG since 2010, with a streak of Worlds invitations between 2012–2018. Nowadays, he enjoys splitting his Pokémon time between playing and being part of the awesome Professor staff teams at major events.

Robin Schulz is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. He has been competing in Pokémon tournaments for 10 years and was the Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion in 2018. He spends a lot of time traveling and competing, and he rarely misses a big event. Aside from playing Pokémon, he attends university, where he is studying mathematics.

Pokémon TCG Power Rankings | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Pokémon TCG World Championships Power Rankings

Aaron Traylor has been competing in the VGC since 2011. He placed in the Top 8 and the Top 16 at the World Championships in 2016 and 2019, respectively. He believes that the friendship between Trainers and their Pokémon is ultimately what leads to success in battle. Outside of Pokémon, he is a graduate student studying computer science and cognitive science.

Markus Stadter is a contributing writer covering Play! Pokémon VGC events for Pokemon.com. After playing in his first VGC tournament in 2010, he won two national titles plus a 3rd place finish at the Pokémon World Championships in 2016. He also began commentating for Play! Pokémon events the same year. You can find him online at 13Yoshi37.

Aaron Zheng is a VGC competitor, commentator, and content creator. He has been competing in the Video Game Championships since 2008. Since then, he's won five Regional Championships and two National Championships. He has also qualified for eight World Championships and placed third at the 2013 World Championships. In more recent years, Aaron has been focused on creating online content. He joined the live commentary team for VGC streams in 2016.

Pokémon VGC World Championships Preview Roundtable | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

2022 Pokémon VGC World Championships Preview Roundtable

Get Sinistea in London, United Kingdom, this August at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships! All Pokémon World Championship attendees can receive a special Sinistea holding a Moomoo Milk. If you're attending the Pokémon World Championships from August 18 to 21 and want to enjoy teatime with Sinistea, remember to bring your Nintendo Switch and your Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game. You can only receive one Sinistea per game.

Look for signs at the Pokémon World Championships for distribution times and instructions on how to receive Sinistea.

If you’re not attending the World Championships, fear not! Online viewers will be able to receive the Victory Pokémon, Victini, by catching the livestream and redeeming a password that will be revealed during broadcast from August 18 to 21. Keep your Nintendo Switch and your Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game handy and enter the password when it’s shown on stream to add this fiery Mythical Pokémon to your team. You can only receive one Victini per game. This password can be redeemed until August 21, 2022, at 4:59 p.m. PDT.

Catch all the 2022 Pokémon World Championships action live on Twitch and YouTube as Trainers from around the world battle to be the very best!

Video Game Distribution | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Receive Victini and Sinistea During the 2022 Pokémon World Championships

The best players from around the world will compete for incredible prizes and the title of World Champion in the 2022 Pokémon World Championships in London, England from August 18–21, 2022.

Even if you aren’t able to make it to London, you can watch all the action live from home. Matches from the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be streaming all weekend long, starting Thursday morning. You can also see Pokémon GO competitions on Thursday through Saturday, Pokkén Tournament DX on Thursday and Friday, and Pokémon UNITE on Friday and Saturday. Check out the full schedule and tune in to each game’s Twitch.tv channel to catch all the action!

Pokémon TCG stream: <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/PokemonTCG'>Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG</a>

Commentators: Joe Bernard, Ross Gilbert, Kyle Sucevich, Ethan Hegyi, Adam Watson, Shelbie "FrostedCaribou" Bou

Pokémon VGC stream: <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/pokemon'>Twitch.tv/Pokemon</a>

Pokémon GO stream: <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/PokemonGO'>Twitch.tv/PokemonGO</a>

Commentators: Gabby Snyder, William “SpeediestChief2” Dunphey, Caleb Peng, Steven "2OButters" Sanders

Pokkén Tournament DX stream: <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/PokkenTournament'>Twitch.tv/PokkenTournament</a>

Commentators: Evan “Wonderchef” Hashimoto, Russell “Kino” Klein, Alex “Jin” Williams

Pokémon UNITE stream: <a href='https://www.twitch.tv/PokemonUNITE'>Twitch.tv/PokemonUNITE</a>

Commentators: Jake Sprague, Kirk Dube, Jeff Hoogland, Joshua Hiebert, John Joshua Mendoza Perez

Stream the 2022 Pokémon World Championships Live | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Stream the 2022 Pokémon World Championships Live

Fans who are excited to plan their trip to the Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store can visit during the store’s open hours from Wednesday, August 17 through Sunday, August 21, 2022. Fans may access the Pop-Up by making a reservation ahead of time or by joining the virtual queue at the event.

Can I change my reservation? Reservations cannot be changed. You may cancel your reservation and join the virtual queue at the event.

Can I reserve multiple time slots? You can book up to one reservation per day. If you have a reservation and want to come back the same day, you can join the virtual queue

How many people can I add to my reservation? Up to four individuals may be added to each reservation. You may also add up to four individuals to a single spot in the virtual queue.

Can I transfer my reservation to someone else? Reservations cannot be transferred.

If I am late to my reservation time window, can I make a new reservation? If you are late to your reservation time window, you can join the virtual queue to access the Pokémon Center Pop-Up.

What payment methods are accepted at the Pokémon Center Pop-Up? The Pokémon Center Pop-Up does not accept cash. You can pay by cash card (debit card) or most credit cards.

What are the Pokémon Center Pop-Up hours? Wednesday, August 17, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Thursday, August 18 – Saturday, August 20, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sunday, August 21, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

As a competitor, spectator, or staff, how do I get into the Pokémon Center Pop-Up? Follow the same instructions as above by making a reservation or using the virtual queue.

Can I check my bag? Yes, there will be a bag check located at the Coat Check outside of the Pokémon Center Pop-Up. If you have a large bag, you will need to use the complimentary bag check prior to entering the Pokémon Center Pop-Up.

Is my bag too large? Bags larger than 9” x 14” x 22” (23cm x 36cm x 56cm) must be checked. If an airline would not classify the bag as a carry-on, then it is too big to enter the Pokémon Center Pop-Up.

What are the directions to get to the ExCel Center? For parking, maps, and directions, see: <a href='https://www.excel.london/visitor/getting-here'>https://www.excel.london/visitor/getting-here</a>.

Do you have a question that wasn't answered here? Reach out to Customer Service here. <a target='_blank' href='https://support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360000020293'>https://support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360000020293</a>

Pokémon Center Pop-Up at the Pokémon World Championships FAQ | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Pokémon Center Pop-Up at the Pokémon World Championships FAQ

Excitement and activities abound at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships, which will take place August 18–21 in London, England. Fans who want to access the Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store’s exclusive Pokémon treasures can now make a reservation to shop. In addition to exclusive designs, the Pop-Up Store is offering exciting Pokémon surprises that you’ll have to see to believe! Best of all, making a reservation is free of cost.

To schedule your reservation to shop Pokémon Center’s themed and exclusive products at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships, visit the appointment manager and then select your preferred shopping date and time. Appointment confirmations and reminders will be sent via SMS or email, depending on your preference. During the event, go to the Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store at the appropriate date and time, check in via the SMS link to enter the virtual queue, and wait until you receive a notification that it’s your turn to shop. Fans who aren’t able to make a reservation before the Championships can do so while in attendance.

Starting August 17 and lasting through the rest of the event, the Pokémon Center’s Pop-Up Store will be open at ExCeL London during the following hours:

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. BST

If exclusive new Pokémon products weren’t exciting enough, the Pop-Up Store is also a PokéStop! Play Pokémon GO while waiting for your scheduled shopping experience, and spin the PokéStop for Field Research and to obtain unique in-game postcards.

Stay tuned for additional information about the exclusive products that will be available at the Pop-Up Store!

Pokémon Center Reservations | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store Reservations Available

As the city of London prepares to host the 2022 Pokémon World Championships from August 18–21, Pokémon fans are preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime shopping experience. The Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store opens August 17 and will be chockablock with products available exclusively at the event, including plush, apparel, and more. Worlds guests will be chuffed to bits to bring home a costumed Pikachu or Roserade plush—or both—as a reminder of the epic battles they saw and the fellow Pokémon fans they met in London.

The Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store will be open at ExCeL London during the following hours:

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for other exclusive products available exclusively at the Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships.

Exclusive Pokémon Center Plush | 2022 Pokémon World Championships

Costumed Pikachu and Roserade Plush Available Exclusively at the 2022 Pokémon World Championships

The Pinnacle of Competitive Pokémon Play