Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage Draw Confirmed After KC Play-Ins Victory
The League of Legends World Championship 2026 Swiss Stage Round 1 matchups have been officially confirmed following a draw held in Los Angeles. The draw took place immediately after the Play-In Stage concluded, where Karmine Corp secured their spot in the main event with a dominant 3-0 victory over MVK Esports in the Play-Ins Final.
The Swiss Stage Round 1 will feature eight opening matchups: Gen.G versus Invictus Gaming, Team Liquid versus CFO, Anyone’s Legend versus Karmine Corp, G2 versus Dplus KIA, Hanwha Life Esports versus Top Esports, LOS versus T1, Team Secret Whales versus LYON, and Bilibili Gaming versus Movistar KOI.
The tournament format distinguishes between match types, with non-progression and non-elimination matches played as Best of 1 series, while progression and elimination matches will be contested as Best of 3 series. This structure creates varied stakes across the opening round, allowing teams multiple opportunities to compete while still maintaining competitive integrity.
The draw determines initial pairings for the Swiss Stage, which features the best teams from around the globe competing at the highest level. Karmine Corp’s impressive Play-In performance demonstrates the growing strength of regional competition outside the major league regions.