# Worlds 2026: Dates, Format and All 19 Qualified Teams
LoL Worlds 2026 runs October 15–November 14. Check the schedule, all 19 qualified teams, the Play-In draw and how Swiss and knockouts work.
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News • October 4, 2026 • Lua Beauvoi

Worlds starts on October 15 and ends on November 14, taking League of Legends’ biggest tournament through Los Angeles, Allen and Brooklyn. All 19 teams have qualified, but Brazil still has a final to play before the Play-In lineup is complete.

![Illustrated silver championship trophy above an esports stage, with Los Angeles, Texas and Brooklyn scenery.](https://baronbuff.com/blog/worlds-2026.jpg)

AI-generated editorial illustration with an imagined trophy and setting.

## The dates to save

- Play-Ins: October 15–18 at Riot Games Arena, Los Angeles.

- Swiss: October 23–26 and 28–31 at Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, Texas.

- Quarterfinals: November 3–6 in Allen.

- Semifinals: November 7–8 in Allen.

- Final: November 14 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.

Play-Ins start at 18:00 UTC each day; the final starts at 19:00 UTC. That is 11 a.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Eastern for both, with US daylight saving time ending between the two stages. Check LoL Esports for any schedule changes.

## All 19 teams are locked in

Riot’s event page lists the full field as of October 4. Qualification is settled, even though some regional seeding is still being decided.

- LCK (South Korea): Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, Dplus KIA.

- LPL (China): Anyone’s Legend, Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Invictus Gaming.

- LEC (EMEA): G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, Karmine Corp.

- LCS (North America): Team Liquid, LYON, Cloud9.

- LCP (Asia-Pacific): Team Secret Whales, CTBC Flying Oyster, MVK Esports.

- CBLOL (Brazil): LOS, FURIA.

## Four teams, one Swiss spot

Play-Ins use a four-team double-elimination bracket, with every series played as a best-of-five. Only the winner advances. Karmine Corp, MVK Esports and Cloud9 face Brazil’s second seed for that spot. Every LCK and LPL team starts directly in Swiss.

The Play-In winner joins 15 teams in Swiss. Teams face opponents with the same match record: three wins send them to the quarterfinals, and three losses send them home. Advancement and elimination matches are best-of-three; the others are best-of-one.

The remaining eight teams enter a single-elimination bracket, with best-of-fives through the final. One lost series ends the run.

## When are the draws?

LOS and FURIA meet in the CBLOL final on October 10. Both have qualified for Worlds: the winner goes straight to Swiss, while the runner-up enters Play-Ins. Sheep Esports reports that the Play-In draw will follow that final.

The first Swiss draw follows the Play-In final on October 18. That is when the opening main-stage matchups become clear.

## More on LoL esports

- [How regional leagues and international tournaments fit together](https://baronbuff.com/blog/league_of_legends_esports_tournaments/)

## Sources

- [Riot Games: Worlds dates, venues and format](https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/msi-and-worlds-updates)

- [LoL Esports: qualified teams](https://lolesports.com/en-US/tournament/115660540725177488/overview)

- [Riot Games: official Worlds 2026 rules](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/dsfx7636/news_live/faa5ce974e58615911fbee931c6123e2785a8b46.pdf)

- [AltChar: daily start times](https://www.altchar.com/guides/lol-worlds-2026-schedule-and-start-times-full-tournament-guide-aNr4t3C7HfxM)

- [Sheep Esports: Play-In draw date](https://www.sheepesports.com/en/articles/when-will-worlds-2026-play-in-stage-draw-happen/en)

- [Sportal: LYON beats Cloud9; Cloud9 takes the LCS third seed](https://sportal.bg/news-2026100414440878320)

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