MSI Results Have Huge Implications on LoL Worlds 2026

Hanwha Life Esports were crowned the League of Legends MSI 2026 champions on the weekend, after defeating Bilibili Gaming 3-2 in an exhilarating final.

The results of the tournament, including G2 Esports’ surprise defeat to LYON after defeating T1, will have huge implications on LoL Worlds.

HLE are now extremely likely to qualify for Worlds, and the regions that will receive extra seeds at Worlds have been decided.

The upcoming Summer Splits around the globe are going to be very tense on the road to this year’s international event.

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HLE Are Almost Guaranteed to Qualify for Worlds

As a result of their MSI win, HLE are now guaranteed to qualify for LoL Worlds as long as they qualify for the LCK Rounds 3-4 Playoffs.

Riot Games brought this rule change and extra incentive to MSI in 2024, with Gen.G benefiting in the last two seasons.

The LCK Summer Split will get underway on July 29, and HLE could secure their Worlds place just a few weeks later.

Because of the LCK’s format, teams will keep their records from Spring.

Considering Spring champions HLE are currently top in the standings with a 15-3 record, it shouldn’t take the team long to mathematically lock in a place in the Playoffs.

LCK and LPL Receive Extra LoL Worlds Seeds

Worlds format

if BLG wins the final : the LPL 4th seed skips playins and goes directly to swiss stage while LCK 4th seed goes to playins

if HLE wins the final : the LCK 4th seed skips playins and goes directly to swiss stage while LPL 4th seed goes to playins https://t.co/Zos2zE9PR3 pic.twitter.com/fZTnrabWNc

— King Valeiker 👑 (@lolvaleiker) July 11, 2026

And as usual, the MSI results have also decided the seeding for LoL Worlds 2026.

MSI finalists HLE and BLG have earned an extra fourth seed for the LCK and LPL, respectively.

And the fourth seeds will be handled differently this year, compared to T1 and Invitus Gaming who faced off in a best-of-five in last year’s Play-Ins to decide who would advance.

This year, because HLE won the title, the LCK fourth seed will get to skip the Play-Ins and immediately qualify for the Swiss Stage.

Meanwhile, the LPL fourth seeds will join the third seeds of the LEC, LCS, and LCP in the Play-Ins, where only one team will advance to the main event.

Who are you early favourites to win LoL Worlds 2026? Share your predictions with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.

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HLE Are Almost Guaranteed to Qualify for Worlds

LCK and LPL Receive Extra LoL Worlds Seeds

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