The League of Legends Worlds 2026 Play-In draw will follow the final of CBLOL, Brazil’s championship, on October 10 in the US. Matches begin at 1:00 a.m. on October 16 in Vietnam, with MVK Esports starting in the Play-In and Team Secret Whales entering directly in Swiss.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 15 to November 14 US time; October 16 to November 15 Vietnam time |
| Teams | 19 teams: 4 in the Play-In (1 advances) and 16 in the Swiss stage |
| Venues | Los Angeles (Play-In), Allen, Texas (Swiss, quarterfinals, semifinals), Brooklyn, New York (final) |
| Draws | Stage by stage, no groups |
Why are there no groups this year?
Worlds moves through a Play-In, a Swiss stage and a knockout stage. The four Play-In teams compete in a double-elimination bracket: a second series loss eliminates a team, and the bracket winner earns the final Swiss-stage place.
The Swiss stage has 16 teams. Three series wins secure a quarterfinal place, while three losses end a team’s run. Instead of staying in fixed groups, teams draw new opponents with matching records after each round. Once eight teams remain, the tournament switches to knockouts. That is why there are several draws to follow rather than one group draw.
When is each stage drawn?
| Draw | When (US time) | How |
|---|---|---|
| Play-In | October 10, right after the CBLOL final | Fully random for 4 teams |
| Swiss, round 1 | October 18, after the last Play-In match | By four seeding tiers |
| Swiss, later rounds | October 23, 24, 26 and 30 | Teams with the same record, no rematches |
| Quarterfinals | October 31 | The two 3-0 teams face 3-2 teams, the rest are random |
Riot has scheduled the Play-In draw after the final of CBLOL, Brazil’s League of Legends championship, on October 10 in the US. Its start depends on when the final finishes. Follow the tournament broadcast for subsequent draws too. The dates in this table are US dates, rather than Vietnamese calendar dates.
Match schedule in Vietnam time
| Stage | Dates (Vietnam time) | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play-In (Bo5) | October 16 to 19 | 1:00 a.m. | Los Angeles |
| Swiss | October 24 to 27 and November 1 | Midnight | Allen, Texas |
| Swiss | October 29 to 31 | 3:00 a.m. | Allen, Texas |
| Quarterfinals (Bo5) | November 4 to 7 | 5:00 a.m. | Allen, Texas |
| Semifinals (Bo5) | November 8 and 9 | 5:00 a.m. | Allen, Texas |
| Final (Bo5) | November 15 | 2:00 a.m. | Brooklyn, New York |
These are the start times for each day’s play, not for every individual matchup. Later series follow earlier ones, so check the running order on the LoL Esports schedule if you are waiting for a particular team. There are no Swiss matches on October 28 in Vietnam.
A best-of-five, or Bo5, ends when a team wins three games. Bo1 is a single game, while Bo3 requires two game wins. The Play-In and knockouts use Bo5; Swiss uses Bo1 or Bo3. US daylight saving time ends on November 1, so November fixtures need to be converted using the appropriate standard-time offset.
How is Swiss round 1 paired?
The 16 teams are split into four seeding tiers. Tier 1 is Gen.G, Anyone’s Legend, Team Liquid Alienware and G2 Esports. Tier 2 is Brazil’s first seed, Team Secret Whales, Hanwha Life Esports and Bilibili Gaming.
Tier 3 is LYON, Movistar KOI, T1 and TOP Esports. Tier 4 is CTBC Flying Oyster, Invictus Gaming, Dplus Kia and the Play-In winner.
Tier 1 plays Tier 4, and Tier 2 plays Tier 3. Two teams from the same region cannot meet in round 1. From round 2, teams from the same region can meet, but no team plays the same opponent twice in the Swiss stage.
Where do the Vietnamese teams stand?
Team Secret Whales starts directly in Swiss on October 24 in Vietnam. Its Tier 2 position means its opening opponent will be LYON, Movistar KOI, T1 or TOP Esports from Tier 3. The draw after the Play-In will settle which one.
MVK Esports must get through the Play-In against Karmine Corp, Cloud9 Kia and Brazil’s second seed. Play begins on October 16 in Vietnam, with only one Swiss place available. The first draw will determine MVK’s opening opponent. See OtaHub’s article on the two Vietnamese teams for rosters and results.
When does Pick’Em open?
Pick’Em is Riot’s tournament prediction game, while Crystal Ball covers tournament-wide statistics and achievements. You can enter on the Pick’Em website or through the League client. Crystal Ball and Play-In predictions open at 6:00 a.m. on October 11 in Vietnam. Play-In picks lock before the first match at 1:00 a.m. on October 16.
Swiss predictions open on October 18 on the US calendar and lock before the opening match at midnight on October 24 in Vietnam. Knockout predictions open on October 31 on the US calendar and lock before the first quarterfinal at 5:00 a.m. on November 4 in Vietnam. Riot has not listed exact opening times for those two windows. Scores are finalized after the final on November 14 in the US, which falls on November 15 in Vietnam.
OtaHub’s take
If you follow Vietnam’s representatives, save two draw dates: the Play-In draw for MVK’s first opponent, then the Swiss draw for Team Secret Whales. Whales’ seeding narrows its potential opponents, but it does not yet establish how difficult its route will be.
Allow for series length when planning your viewing. The Play-In starts at 1:00 a.m. and uses best-of-fives, so a full day’s broadcast can run well into the morning. For quarterfinals and semifinals starting at 5:00 a.m., check the matchup and running order before arranging your day.
FAQ
Has the Worlds 2026 draw happened yet?
No. The first draw is the Play-In draw, held right after the CBLOL final on October 10 US time (early morning of October 11 in Vietnam).
Does Worlds 2026 have groups?
No. The tournament uses a Play-In, a Swiss stage and a knockout stage, so draws happen stage by stage rather than as one group draw.
What time are Worlds 2026 matches in Vietnam time?
Play-In at 1:00 a.m. (October 16 to 19). Swiss at midnight, and at 3:00 a.m. on October 29 to 31. Quarterfinals and semifinals at 5:00 a.m. (November 4 to 9). The final at 2:00 a.m. on November 15.
When do the Vietnamese teams play?
MVK Esports plays the Play-In from October 16 Vietnam time. Team Secret Whales enters the Swiss stage directly, starting October 24 Vietnam time. Specific opponents are set after the draws.
Sources: Riot Games (Worlds 2026 Primer), Inven Global (Worlds 2026 cheat sheet), Insider Gaming (Worlds 2026 draw schedule).
