Four teams, one Swiss Stage spot, and no room for mistakes as the Worlds 2026 Play-In Stage gets underway.
There are only a few hours left before the 2026 League of Legends World Championship kicks off, with four teams battling in the Play-In Stage for a single spot in the Swiss Stage. Over the next few days, 
Cloud9 KIA, 
Karmine Corp, 
FURIA Esports, and 
MVK Esports will fight to come out on top and join the other teams in the next stage of the competition.
So, which team has the best chance of making it to the Swiss Stage? Here's GosuGamers' analysis of the four contenders.
Which team is most likely to win the Worlds 2026 Play-In Stage?
Karmine Corp are strong favourites to survive the Play-In Stage
Of all the teams in the Play-In Stage, Karmine Corp (KC) are the biggest favourites to advance, especially considering their performances throughout the year. The team have consistently challenged European powerhouses throughout the season, including defeating long-time Worlds mainstays 
Fnatic, who will be missing Worlds for the first time since 2016.
On top of that, they stunned the esports community with their performance at the Esports World Cup, where they unexpectedly defeated LPL powerhouse Anyone's Legend and six-time LoL world champions 
T1 on their way to the grand final, where they eventually lost to 
Dplus KIA.
KC clearly have the potential to pop off and challenge even the strongest teams, so as long as they show up in their best form at the Play-In Stage, they will most likely have it in the bag.
FURIA are strong contenders for the Play-In Stage'
FURIA may come from a minor region, but they have experience competing in international tournaments throughout the year, unlike the other teams in the Play-In Stage. FURIA represented the CBLOL at the Mid-Season Invitational and Esports World Cup this year. However, they weren't able to make a deep run in either tournament, finishing 7th–8th at MSI.
That said, FURIA dominated the Americas Cup, sweeping Cloud9 KIA in both the opening round and the grand final to win the tournament title. If FURIA can recapture that form and find openings against Karmine Corp, they might just take that final Swiss Stage slot.
Cloud9 KIA could be the Play-In Stage's dark horse
Cloud9 KIA could be the dark horse of the Worlds 2026 Play-In Stage. The North American squad are making their return to the international stage after a lengthy absence, and while they may not have the same recent international experience as Karmine Corp or FURIA, they have enough individual talent to challenge both teams.
With veterans like 
Robert “Blaber” Huang and 
Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme alongside promising talents such as 
Park “Thanatos” Seung-gyu and Lee “Loki” Sang-min, Cloud9 have the potential to make a deep run in the Play-In Stage. However, their biggest challenge will be translating that potential into results against international opposition.
Cloud9 also have unfinished business with FURIA, who swept them twice at the Americas Cup in March. While those defeats make FURIA the stronger pick on paper, Worlds offers Cloud9 a chance to turn things around. Their lack of recent international appearances makes them difficult to predict, but that uncertainty is also what makes them an interesting dark horse.
MVK Esports are the biggest underdogs of the bunch
MVK Esports enter Worlds 2026 as the biggest underdogs of the Play-In Stage. The Vietnamese squad have plenty to prove, particularly with a relatively inexperienced roster featuring several young players who have yet to compete on the international stage.
However, MVK should not be underestimated. Vietnamese teams have long been known for their aggressive playstyle, willingness to take fights, and ability to catch stronger opponents off guard. That unpredictability could work in MVK's favour, especially if their young players can shake off the nerves and play with confidence.
MVK have also shown glimpses of their potential in the LCP, notably taking 
CTBC Flying Oyster to five games and defeating
GAM Esports 3-2 during the final split. However, their subsequent 1-3 defeat to CFO in the lower bracket final showed that they still have some catching up to do against the region's strongest teams.
Qualifying for the Swiss Stage will be an uphill battle against more experienced opponents, but MVK have little to lose and plenty to gain from their Worlds appearance. Even if they fall short, the tournament will be a valuable opportunity for their young roster to gain international experience and show what Vietnam's next generation of talent can offer.
