The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game League of Legends had a tournament at the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris, France, from July 15 to 19, 2026. Sixteen teams took part in this tournament – three each from the LCK (Korea), LEC (EMEA), and LPL (China), two each from the LCP (Asia-Pacific), LCS (North America), and CBLOL (South America), and the defending champions Gen.G.
It was the third League of Legends tournament at the EWC and the second under a three-year partnership between game developer Riot Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation to bring League of Legends, Valorant, and Teamfight Tactics into the event until 2027. Dplus KIA of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) won the tournament, defeating Karmine Corp of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) 3–0 in the final.
Format In the group stage, all sixteen teams were divided into four groups of four and competed in a GSL-style group stage double-elimination bracket, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the playoffs. Opening matches and winners' matches in the group stage were best-of-ones, while elimination and decider matches were best-of-three.
In the playoffs, the teams that qualified through the group stage competed in an eight-team single-elimination bracket. Matches in the quarter-finals and semi-finals were best-of-three; the final was a best-of-five. The teams that lost in the semifinals competed in a third-place match.
Qualification 2025 tournament winners Gen.G automatically qualified for the 2026 edition by virtue of being defending champions. The League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), League of Legends Pro League (LPL), and League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) had three representatives each. The League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP), League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), and Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends had two representatives each.
Qualified teams RegionLeagueTeamPath South Korea LCK Gen.G EWC 2025 Champions Hanwha Life Esports Road to MSI winner T1 EWC Online Qualifier Dplus KIA EWC Online Qualifier EMEA LEC G2 Esports Spring Split championKarmine Corp EWC Online QualifierMovistar KOI EWC Online Qualifier China LPL Bilibili Gaming Split 2 champion AG.AL EWC Online QualifierJD Gaming EWC Online Qualifier Asia-Pacific LCP Team Secret Split 2 champion GAM Esports EWC Online Qualifier North America LCS LYON Spring Split champions Sentinels EWC Online Qualifier South America CBLOL FURIA Split 1 champion MIBR.LOS EWC Online Qualifier
Draw The results of the draw for the group stage were announced on 7 July 2026. Group AGroup BGroup CGroup DG2 EsportsTeam SecretBilibili GamingHanwha Life EsportsAG.ALGen.GT1LYONDplus KIAKarmine CorpGAM EsportsJD GamingFURIASentinelsMovistar KOIMIBR.LOS
Group stage Dates: 15–16 July 2026 Sixteen teams were drawn into four groups of four teams each. Teams from the same region cannot be placed in the same group. Double elimination; Opening matches and winners' matches are best-of-one; elimination and decider matches were best-of-three
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Playoffs Dates: 17–19 July 2026 Matchups were determined by a draw Eight teams consisting of the top two teams from each group in the group stage Single elimination; matches in quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-threes; final is best-of-five
Ranking The tournament had a total prize pool of US$2,000,000. It was distributed as shown below. Place Team Region Prize (%) Prize (USD) 1st Dplus KIA LCK 30% $600,000 2nd Karmine Corp LEC 17% $340,000 3rd Gen.G LCK 11% $220,000 4th T1 LCK 7% $140,000 5th–8th AG.AL LPL 4.5% $90,000 Bilibili Gaming LPL Hanwha Life Esports LCK JD Gaming LPL 9th–12th G2 Esports LEC 2.75% $55,000 Sentinels LCS GAM Esports LCP MIBR.LOS CBLOL 13th–16th FURIA CBLOL 1.5% $30,000 Team Secret LCP Movistar KOI LEC LYON LCS
Notes
References
External links Esports World Cup official website