Two Vietnamese teams, two paths. At Worlds 2026, Team Secret Whales goes straight to the Swiss Stage after winning all three LCP splits this year, while MVK Esports, coached by SofM, must take the Play-In route, where four teams fight for a single spot. Here is the schedule in Vietnam time (UTC+7) and everything you need to know before the tournament starts.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 16 to November 15, 2026 (Vietnam time, UTC+7) |
| Venues | Los Angeles, Allen (Texas), with the final at Barclays Center, New York |
| Teams | 19 teams from 6 regions |
| Vietnamese representatives | Team Secret Whales (LCP #1), MVK Esports (LCP #3) |
| Defending champion | T1 |
| Slogan | “This Is Our Moment” |
Worlds 2026 schedule in Vietnam time
| Stage | Dates (Vietnam time, UTC+7) | Match time (Vietnam time) | US time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play-In | October 16 to 19 | 1:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. PDT | Riot Games Arena, Los Angeles |
| Swiss Stage | October 24 to November 1 | 12:00 a.m. (some days 3:00 a.m.) | 12:00 p.m. CDT | Allen, Texas |
| Quarterfinals, semifinals | November 4 to 9 | 5:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. CST | Allen, Texas |
| Final | November 15 | 2:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. EST (November 14) | Barclays Center, New York |
Other key dates: the Play-In draw on October 10 (US time), the theme song “Know My Name” by True Damage releasing at 8:00 a.m. on October 9 Vietnam time, and the Pick’Em opening at 6:00 a.m. on October 11 Vietnam time. Korean outlets such as Inven list the schedule in Asian time, so dates are usually one day off compared with the US-time schedule.
Format: Play-In, Swiss Stage and knockouts
- Play-In: 4 teams play a winners and losers bracket, every match Bo5, with a random draw, and only 1 team advances.
- Swiss Stage: 16 teams play up to 5 rounds. Three wins and a team advances, three losses and it is eliminated. Matches that decide advancement or elimination are Bo3, the rest are Bo1. From round 2, teams from the same region can meet.
- Knockout stage: 8 teams, Bo5 single elimination, from the quarterfinals through the final.
Team Secret Whales: straight to the Swiss Stage
Team Secret Whales (TSW) is the LCP’s seed 1, the Asia-Pacific regional league in which Vietnamese teams compete. TSW won all three LCP splits in 2026, taking the last one 3-0 over CTBC Flying Oyster on August 30 in Taipei, with Hizto as finals MVP. It was also the first team in the world to qualify for Worlds 2026. At Worlds 2025, TSW went out in the Swiss Stage with a 1-3 record.
In the first Swiss round, TSW is in seed group 2 and will face a team from group 3: LYON, Movistar KOI, T1 or TOP Esports.
| Role | Team Secret Whales | MVK Esports |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Pun (Nguyễn Đăng Khoa) | Kratos (Ngô Đức Khánh) |
| Jungle | Hizto (Lê Văn Hoàng Hải) | Gury (Lương Hải Long), SanSan (Lê Quốc Khánh) |
| Mid | Dire (Trần Duy Đức) | Chika (Võ Lê Nhân) |
| ADC | Eddie (Hoàng Công Nghĩa) | Harky (Nguyễn Văn Hữu) |
| Support | Bie (Trần Đức Hiếu) | SiuLoong (Nguyễn Hoàng Lam) |
| Head coach | WarHorse | SofM (Lê Quang Duy) |
MVK Esports: the Play-In challenge
MVK Esports, the new name of Vikings Esports since late 2025, earned its spot as the LCP’s seed 3 after finishing third in split 3, thanks to season-long points. The team is led by SofM, Vietnam’s legendary jungler, who serves as both co-owner and head coach.
In the Play-In, MVK will face Karmine Corp (Europe), Cloud9 Kia (North America) and Brazil’s seed 2 team (LOS or FURIA, decided on October 10). If MVK gets through, it enters the Swiss Stage in group 4 and faces one of the strongest teams from group 1: Gen.G, Anyone’s Legend, Team Liquid Alienware or G2.
The 19 teams at Worlds 2026
- LCK (South Korea): Gen.G, Hanwha Life, T1, Dplus Kia
- LPL (China): Anyone’s Legend, Bilibili Gaming, TOP Esports, Invictus Gaming
- LEC (Europe): G2, Movistar KOI, Karmine Corp
- LCS (North America): Team Liquid Alienware, LYON, Cloud9 Kia
- LCP (Asia-Pacific): Team Secret Whales, CTBC Flying Oyster, MVK Esports
- CBLOL (Brazil): LOS, FURIA
OtaHub’s take
For TSW, the realistic goal is to improve on last year’s 1-3 and reach three wins to make the quarterfinals, something Vietnamese teams have not managed at recent Worlds. The first-round draw matters a lot: facing LYON or Movistar KOI is much easier than T1 or TOP Esports. MVK has the hardest route, but the Bo5 Play-In and the losers bracket give the team two chances, and SofM’s experience is a significant anchor.
FAQ
When is Worlds 2026?
From October 15 to November 14, 2026 in US time, which is October 16 to November 15 in Vietnam time. The final takes place at 2:00 a.m. on November 15 Vietnam time (2:00 p.m. EST on November 14) at Barclays Center in New York.
How many Vietnamese teams are at Worlds 2026?
Two teams from the LCP: Team Secret Whales (seed 1, straight to the Swiss Stage) and MVK Esports (seed 3, playing the Play-In).
Who does MVK play in the Play-In?
Karmine Corp, Cloud9 Kia and Brazil’s seed 2 team (LOS or FURIA). The Play-In uses a winners and losers bracket format, all Bo5, and only one team advances. The draw takes place on October 10.
What time can I watch Worlds 2026 in Vietnam?
The Play-In is at 1:00 a.m., the Swiss Stage is usually at 12:00 a.m. (some days at 3:00 a.m.), the knockout stage is at 5:00 a.m., and the final is at 2:00 a.m. on November 15. All times are Vietnam time (UTC+7).
When does the Worlds 2026 Pick’Em open?
According to LoL Esports, the Pick’Em opens at 4:00 p.m. US time on October 10 (6:00 a.m. on October 11 Vietnam time).
Sources: LoL Esports (Worlds 2026 primer, theme song), Liquipedia, Inven Global, Insider Gaming, VietnamNet, Bongdaplus, GosuGamers, Sheep Esports.
