Most common predictions for the 2026 Worlds quarter-finalists

The Worlds 2026 is upon us, which means that the best esports teams will be competing for the chance to become the LoL Worlds Champion. Prediction markets are a great way for players to back particular teams in different aspects of the Worlds 2026, not just the outright winner. One of the more popular markets is which eight teams will make the quarterfinals.

Reaching the quarterfinals is a much different conversation from winning the entire tournament, or even from reaching the finals. While the dominant teams will obviously be odds on favorites, many teams don’t have to be genuine title contenders to reach the knockout stage. Teams just need to navigate the Swiss stage successfully, and in this guide, we will  cover which teams the odds favor to do that.

Best League of Legends Worlds 2026 prediction markets

What do Prediction Markets Say About the Worlds 2026 Quarterfinalists?

The best prediction markets, like Kalshi, provide accurate insight into major esports tournaments by trading on probability. By continuously evaluating market sentiment, statistical performance, and regional dominance, Kalshi offers a clear picture of which eight teams are favored to advance past the Swiss stage into the Quarterfinals.

Here is how Kalshi traders currently price each team’s likelihood of reaching the top eight:

As expected, market sentiment on Kalshi strongly favors established powerhouse rosters, with Gen.G leading at a massive 90% probability, closely followed by BLG, T1, and Hanwha Life Esports. Dark horse contenders like Anyone's Legend and G2 Esports  also hold steady backing to navigate the Swiss stage successfully.

Polymarket Breakdown: Top Candidates for the Worlds 2026 Quarterfinals

Top decentralized platforms like Polymarket offer a dynamic, user-driven look into competitive League of Legends outcomes. By leveraging global trading volume and real-time sentiment, Polymarket provides a sharp forecast on which teams are on track to secure a Quarterfinal slot.

The table below highlights the Quarterfinal probabilities currently projected by Polymarket traders:

Polymarket heavily reflects strong community confidence in Korean powerhouses, giving Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, and T1 some of the highest advancement probabilities on the market. Notably, Polymarket traders show higher confidence in G2 Esports compared to traditional platforms, while maintaining a more cautious outlook on Invictus Gaming.

What is driving these valuation trends on Polymarket, and where can traders find potential value? Let's break down the details.

Eight Teams Most Likely To Reach the Worlds 2026 Quarterfinals

There are several clear reasons why some teams have such high odds to make it to the quarterfinals on both brands, while other teams deviate on both Kalshi and Polymarket.

We discuss in our Polymarket review how odds are decided by both public opinion and performance analysis, so let’s take a look at exactly why these teams are ranked where they are currently:

Gen.G

Gen.G have dominated the field this year, with winning the LCK and most major international teams in the world this season. They are currently the market favorite to be the outright winner of the entire Worlds tournament, so their odds being 90%+ to make it to the quarterfinals is only logical. Considering how consistent and strong Gen.G are, this is a safe wager to make.

Gen.G

Bilibili Gaming

Bilibili Gaming are a top ranking contender in the Chinese LPL league, as well as having plenty of international success this season. They won the First Stand tournament at the start of the year, and they have a great ability to adapt and evolve when facing different tournaments.

They haven’t had much success when playing against strong Korean sides like Gen.g and Hanwha Life, but I still believe this will not prevent them from making it to the knockout stages in convincing fashion.

Bilibili Gaming

T1

T1 have six Worlds championships already under their belt, which makes them one of the most legendary LoL esports teams of all time. Their ability to handle high pressure games and perform in knockout games makes them an easy bet for making it to the knockouts. They have not been on form this season, but they are still a strong enough team to make it to the quarterfinals.

T1

Hanwha Life Esports

Hanwha Life are ranked #1 in the world right  now according to the Riot GDPR rankings, and have had international success of their own, defeating BLG to win the MSI (Mid-Season Invitational) tournament. They are a strong Korean representative, and as long as the early brackets in the Swiss favor them, it's likely they will make it to the quarterfinals.

Hanwha Life Esports

G2 Esports

G2 are the number 1 EU ranked team right now, dominating their own region and are fully capable of performing on an international stage, by reaching the top 2 in the MSI this year. They may struggle in the later knockout stages against more consistent and capable teams, but if the seeding favors them with similarly capable teams, they could make it to the quarterfinals with a decent 3-1 record.

G2 Esports

Anyone’s Legend

Anyone’s Legend is known for their Cinderella performances. They scored the biggest upset of the year by defeating Bilibili in the finals of the LPL, so they are known for scoring upsets. This dark horse team has all the tools to make it to the quarterfinals. While they can be inconsistent, they do perform well under pressure, and it is likely that pattern will repeat itself in the Swiss stage.

Anyone’s Legend

Dplus KIA

Dplus KIA have been on strong form this year, with a win in the Esports World Cup solidifying them as a team that nobody should sleep on going into this year's Worlds. It's highly unlikely they will win this year, but if they manage to put on performances like they did in the Esports World Cup, it is completely achievable that they manage to squeeze their way into the quarterfinals during a back and forth Swiss stage.

Dplus KIA

Invictus Gaming

Invictus Gaming are another team that are known for being inconsistent, frequently falling short when the pressure is on. Considering they qualified through the LPL Regional Finals with an impressive performance, it is likely the Swiss stage format will be kind to Invictus. They could also manage to qualify in a back and forth performance with a 3-2 record, although there are other teams that are just as capable.

Invictus Gaming

What Factors Could Influence Quarterfinal Qualification?

The Swiss stage is ultimately the most back and forth period of the tournament, and a lot of upsets can happen early on in this stage. Here are some factors that could influence the quarterfinal qualification and what teams the prediction markets could back as the tournament is underway:

Best prediction markets for LoL Worlds 2026

How to Follow Worlds 2026 Quarterfinal Predictions

We cover this in both our Polymarket and Kalshi review, but the great aspect of using prediction markets to place wager is there are such specific markets you can wager on for major esports tournaments like the LoL Worlds. One of those specific markets is the knockout stage markets, or the quarterfinal qualification markets, both of which are specific markets that are available on Polymarket and Kalshi.

We would recommend checking out our video game prediction market review for an in-depth look at how these markets actually work in practice, but our advice would be to keep the markets open as the tournament progresses. A lot can happen over the course of the Swiss stages, and the prediction markets will adapt quickly. You may find new underdogs becoming likely players to make it to the quarterfinals, and the probabilities falling and rising throughout. These markets are accurate, so make sure to follow them closely.

Who will face off in the quarterfinals of the 2026 LoL World Championship at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center?

Plenty of Potential Quarterfinal Candidates

The eight teams we have mentioned above are solid picks to make it to the quarterfinals. The top four teams, Hanwha Life, Gen.G, T1 and Bilibili Gaming are extremely safe bets, as we expect these teams to make it to the knockout stages in certain fashion.

G2, Anyone’s Legend, Dplus KIA and Invictus aren’t as sure bets, they are just underdogs that are on form recently. One thing is for certain though: the prediction markets, like Kalshi and Polymarket, will only become more informative as the teams start to compete. So, make sure to check these prediction markets out as you follow this year's LoL Worlds tournament.