Meet the teams that have qualified for League of Legends Worlds 2021

Last updated: Sept. 5

It's September, which means the League of Legends World Championship is next month! After months of qualifying through their respective domestic playoffs and regional tournaments, 22 teams from around the world have qualified for League's biggest annual event. Worlds was originally set to take place in China, but in August, Riot Games announced the event would be held in Europe instead. To get you ready for League of Legends' fall classic, here's a little bit about each team.

League of Legends European Championship (LEC) -- Europe

Rogue became the first to qualify for Worlds 2021. Photo credit: Riot Games

Rogue

After defeating Misfits 3-2 in Round 1 of the LEC Summer Playoffs to advance to the LEC semifinals, Rogue are once again heading back to the League of Legends World Championship. Rogue had a disappointing 1-5 performance at Worlds in 2020, but with top laner, Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu, now at the helm of the team, they’re looking to change that trend and push themselves to new heights with a revamped roster.

İrfan Berk "Armut" Tükek was on the Turkish team SuperMassive that beat MAD Lions at Worlds 2020. Photo credit: Riot Games

MAD Lions

MAD Lions defeated G2 Esports 3-1 in Round 1 of the LEC Summer Playoffs, punching a ticket to the world championship for the second year in a row. MAD Lions struggled at the 2020 world championship but dazzled at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year, scoring wins against international titans, DWG KIA and Royal Never Give Up. Since then, MAD have continued to be one of the best teams in Europe after repeating as LEC champions this summer.

Fnatic have failed only twice in 11 years to qualify for Worlds. Photo credit: Riot Games

Fnatic

Fnatic defeated longtime European kings G2 Esports 3-2 in Round 3 of the LEC Summer Playoffs, making it the team’s fifth straight Worlds appearance since 2017. This also will be Fnatic’s ninth overall world championship appearance since winning the first world championship in 2011. The game has changed a lot since then, but the current Fnatic roster is just as exciting as any other and is looking to solidify itself as a world class team behind Gabriel “Bwipo” Rau’s jungle mastery.

League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) -- South Korea

The Korean champions will try to win Worlds in back-to-back years. Photo credit: Riot Games Korea

DWG KIA

DWG KIA will be returning to the world championship this year to defend their title as reigning champions. DWG KIA secured their ticket to Worlds by winning the LCK in spring and finishing first in the regular season this summer, guaranteeing the minimum amount of circuit points to qualify. Since falling to Royal Never Give Up in the Mid-Season Invitational final earlier this year, DWG KIA have looked shaky, but they maintain their status as the team to beat from the LCK.

Gen.G reached the quarterfinals at Worlds 2020. Photo credit: Riot Games Korea

Gen.G

Gen.G qualified for the world championship after DWG KIA defeated Nongshim Redforce in the LCK Summer Playoffs semifinals, guaranteeing the team qualification either via circuit points or the upcoming LCK Regional Qualifier. This will be Gen.G’s second straight Worlds appearance and third overall since the organization’s inception in 2018. Gen.G recently lost to the legendary T1 in the playoffs semifinals but remain a strong contender for the LCK at Worlds this year, especially with mid laner Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong looking like he’s at the top of his game.

Faker and T1 will return to Worlds this year after missing out on qualifying last year. Photo credit: Riot Games Korea

T1

Formerly known as SK Telecom T1, T1 qualified for the world championship after defeating fellow qualifier Gen.G in the LCK Playoffs semifinals. Set to face off against DWG KIA in the LCK final, T1 are guaranteed to qualify either by defeating DWG KIA or being directly seeded via the LCK Regional Qualifier. T1 have the most world championship titles of any League of Legends organization at three but have not won the tournament since defeating Samsung Galaxy in 2016. The greatest League of Legends player of all time, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, will be looking to change that in 2021.

Hanwha Life are going to Worlds for the first time ever. Photo credit: Hanwha Life

Hanwha Life Esports

Hanwha Life Esports defeated Nongshim RedForce 3-0 in the LCK Regional Finals to advance to a final matchup against T1 and punch their first ever ticket to the world championship. Hanwha Life Esports originally entered League of Legends after acquiring the ROX Tigers in 2018 but failed to make much of a mark until surprising fans late this year. Hanwha Life Esports is certainly South Korea’s weakest team, but fans can expect mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon to shine bright on the world stage as one of the best mid laners in his region.

League Championship Series (LCS) -- North America

This will be 100 Thieves' first trip to Worlds since 2018. Photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

100 Thieves

100 Thieves made it close, but secured their world championship qualification with a 3-2 series win against Evil Geniuses in Round 1 of the LCS Championship. 100 Thieves haven’t been to the world championship since the event was held in South Korea in 2018, but the team’s current iteration are LCS champions for the first time ever and head up the region as its No. 1 seed.

Read more: 100 Thieves steal spotlight with their first LCS championship

This will be Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-in's sixth straight trip to Worlds -- three straight with Team Liquid and before with Korean teams Samsung Galaxy (twice) and Gen.G (once). Photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

Team Liquid

Team Liquid secured their Worlds qualification after dominating TSM 3-1 in Round 2 of the LCS Championship. Team Liquid are a mainstay at the world championship and will be attending the event for the fourth year in a row. Team Liquid have yet to have any success at Worlds, but they’ll be looking to change that in their current dominant form.

Worlds will mark Cloud9's second international appearance this year after they represented North America at the Mid-Season Invitational. Photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

Cloud9

Cloud9 secured their world championship qualification after narrowly defeating TSM 3-2 in Round 3 of the LCS Championship. This will be Cloud9’s eighth appearance at the world championship after missing out on the event following a dominant domestic season in 2020. Cloud9 may have missed their chance to dazzle at Worlds last year and stumbled at the Mid-Season Invitational this year, but they’ll be looking to show North American fans that they still got it.

League of Legends Pro League (LPL) -- China

Doinb and FPX won Worlds in 2019. Photo credit: Riot Games

FunPlus Phoenix

FunPlus Phoenix qualified for the world championship after defeating Team WE 3-0 to advance to the 2021 LPL Summer final. Win or lose, FunPlus Phoenix are guaranteed to represent the LPL as the region’s No. 1 or No. 2 seed. FPX won Worlds in 2019 but failed to qualify in 2020 and will certainly be looking for another title on the back of star mid laner Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang.

EDward Gaming are heading to worlds for the first time in three years. Photo credit: Riot Games

EDward Gaming

EDward Gaming qualified for Worlds after defeating Team WE 3-0 in the LPL Summer Playoffs lower bracket final. Similar to FunPlus Phoenix, EDward Gaming are guaranteed to represent the LPL as the region’s first or second seed. This will be EDG’s fifth world championship appearance, but first since 2018, when they were knocked out by eventual finalists Fnatic in the quarterfinals.

RNG might not be China's top seed at Worlds, but they did win the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year. Photo credit: Riot Games

Royal Never Give Up

Royal Never Give Up qualified for Worlds after defeating Team WE 3-0 in Round 1 of the LPL Regional Finals. Royal Never Give Up failed to win the LPL Summer Split but still profile as a heavy hitter at Worlds as this year’s Mid-Season Invitational champion. Royal Never Give Up have been slower to adjust to the meta than usual, so Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao’s stability in the top lane will be important for the team’s Worlds winning prospects.

Tarzan previsouly went to Worlds with Griffin in 2019. Photo credit: Riot Games

LNG Esports

LNG Esports defeated Team WE 3-1 in Round 2 of the LPL Regional Finals to qualify for their first ever world championship. LNG Esports rebranded from Snake Esports in 2019 and have always been the people’s team, as they narrowly miss the world championship year after year. LNG shocked fans with a late surge in the summer playoffs, defeating both Royal Never Give Up and TOP Esports to earn themselves a chance at Worlds qualification in the first place. Now, LNG Esports will just have to prove that they’re the real deal in Europe this fall.

Pacific Championship Series (PCS) -- Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia

Worlds will mark PSG's second time on the international stage this year. Photo credit: Riot Games

PSG Talon

PSG Talon punched their ticket to Worlds after defeating J Team 3-2 to advance to the PCS Summer Playoffs final. This will be PSG Talon’s second world championship appearance since the team’s inception in 2020. PSG Talon dominated the PCS regular season with a perfect 18-0 record but were sent to the lower bracket by Beyond Gaming in the PCS Summer Playoffs. They defeated Beyond Gaming in a rematch, 3-2, in the grand final to earn a hard-fought No. 1 seed for the PCS.

Doggo was a last-minute sub for PSG at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year, and now he will be going to Worlds with Beyond Gaming. Photo credit: Riot Games

Beyond Gaming

Beyond Gaming qualified for the world championship after defeating PSG Talon 3-2 to advance to the PCS Summer Playoffs final. This will be Beyond Gaming’s first ever appearance at Worlds after the team was established earlier this year. Beyond Gaming is a brand new team, but fans will recognize AD Carry Chiu “Doggo” Tzu-Chuan, who subbed in for PSG Talon at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year.

Liga Latinoamérica (LLA) -- Latin America

Infinity Esports will be making their first Worlds appearance in three years. Photo credit: Riot Games

Infinity Esports

Infinity Esports qualified for the world championship after defeating Estral Esports 3-2 in the LLA Closing Playoffs final. This will be Infinity Esports’ second Worlds appearance and first since qualifying for the play-in stage at the 2018 world championship. Infinity Esports disappointed at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year, only managing a 1-5 record in the group stage but will look to impress after a solid summer of dominance in Latin America.

League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO) -- Oceania

PEACE's Babip has been to Worlds before with MAMMOTH. Photo credit: Riot Games

PEACE

PEACE defeated Pentanet.GG 3-0 in the LCO Split 2 finals to qualify for the team’s first ever world championship. Ever since the Mid-Season Invitational, Pentanet.GG stood out as the favorites to win it all in Oceania, but PEACE put a stop to that with solid laning mechanics and strong early game drafts. At the center of that early game success is jungler Leo “Babip” Romer, who will be making his third straight Worlds appearance since being part of the infamous MAMMOTH lineup with Cloud9’s Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami in 2019.

Read more: A long way from home, Oceania players find opportunity in the LCS

Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLoL) -- Brazil

TitaN has been to Worlds before with KaBuM! e-sports. Photo credit: Riot Games

RED Canids

RED Canids qualified for the world championship after defeating Rensga Esports 3-1 in the CBLOL Split 2 finals. RED Canids’ only international appearance up to this point is a Mid-Season Invitational berth in 2017, and with the current roster lacking international experience, AD carry Alexandre “TitaN” Lima dos Santos will have to step up as a prior Worlds attendee and CBLoL veteran. Brazil has often struggled at international tournaments, but a new team with fresh faces might just change the region’s luck.

League of Legends Continental League (LCL) -- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

UoL continue to be the standard-bearers for the Russia/Eastern European CIS region with five consecutive domestic titles. Photo credit: Riot Games

Unicorns of Love

Unicorns of Love defeated CrowCrowd 3-2 in the LCL Summer finals to not only secure their place at the world championship, but also their fifth straight domestic title since LCL 2019 Summer. The Unicorns of Love are traditionally dominant and continually meet expectations as one of the strongest minor region teams at international tournaments. Looking forward to Worlds, fans will want to keep an eye on AD Carry Andrey “Argonavt” Yakovlev, who replaced Stanislav “Lodik” Kornelyuk after the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year.

Turkish Championship League (TCL) -- Turkey

Galatasaray will be making their first international appearance. Photo credit: Riot Games Turkey

Galatasaray

Galatasaray defeated NASR eSports Turkey 3-0 in the TCL Summer finals to qualify for their first ever world championship. Galatasaray’s lineup features many key veteran players, but perhaps none more exciting than top laner Kim “Crazy” Jae-hee, who once played in the LCK with ESC Ever. Galatasaray might be new to the world stage, but Turkey consistently performs well at international events, and Galatasaray will likely be no different.

League of Legends Japan League (LJL) -- Japan

DFM will once again represent Japan this year on the international stage. Photo credit: Riot Games

DetonatioN FocusMe

DetonatioN FocusMe defeated Rascal Jester 3-0 in the LJL Summer finals to qualify for the World Championship. After missing out on the world championship last year, this will be Detonation FocusMe’s third appearance at League’s fall classic. Fans will certainly be awaiting the performances of top laner Shunsuke “Evi” Murase and AD carry Yuta “Yutapon” Sugiura, who anchored the team in their upset win against Cloud9 at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year.

Vietnam Championship Series (VCS) -- Vietnam

The VCS cancelled its summer season and according to a report from Dot Esports will not be sending teams to Europe for Worlds due to visa issues. Vietnam was slated to have two slots at Worlds and would have rounded out the field of teams to 24.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games