All LCK Teams at Worlds 2026 and How They Qualified

The LCK has confirmed all of its representatives for Worlds 2026, with South Korea set to once again be one of the most represented regions at the League of Legends World Championship. The tournament will take place in the United States between October and November.

In addition to defending the title won in 2025, South Korea will have an extra spot at this year's tournament. The additional berth was secured through the region's performance on the international stage, giving the LCK four representatives at Worlds 2026.

Which LCK Teams Are at Worlds 2026?

The four LCK teams that qualified for Worlds 2026 are Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1 and Dplus KIA. Here are the lineups heading into the tournament:

How Did the LCK Teams Qualify for Worlds?

The LCK originally had three regional berths for Worlds 2026, but Hanwha Life Esports added a fourth South Korean representative by winning the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Under Riot Games' qualification rules, the MSI champion earns a Worlds berth as long as it reaches its regional playoffs, a condition HLE fulfilled during the LCK season.

Seed 1: Gen.G

Gen.G once again heads to Worlds as the LCK's first seed (Image: LCK)

Gen.G mathematically secured its place at Worlds on September 1, when it defeated KT Rolster 3-0 in the second round of the upper bracket. The result guaranteed Gen.G at least a top-four finish in the LCK playoffs.

Qualification, however, was only the beginning. Gen.G followed up with a 3-1 win over Hanwha Life to advance directly to the final. On September 13, the two teams met again for the title, and Gen.G repeated the 3-1 scoreline to win the 2026 LCK championship and secure the region's first seed at Worlds.

Seed 2: Hanwha Life Esports

Hanwha Life only needed to reach the playoffs to secure a spot at Worlds (Image: Riot Games)

Hanwha Life had already opened its path to Worlds by winning MSI 2026. The international title gave the team a Worlds berth as long as it also reached the LCK playoffs, a condition it met during the season.

In the playoffs, HLE defeated T1 3-2 before losing 3-1 to Gen.G and dropping to the lower bracket. It then beat T1 again, this time 3-1, to reach the final. A second 3-1 loss to Gen.G left Hanwha Life as the LCK runner-up and South Korea's second seed.

Seed 3: T1

T1 enters Worlds as the third seed but is the reigning LoL world champion (Image: Riot Games)

T1 secured its place at Worlds during the LCK playoffs. Gen.G's 3-0 victory over KT Rolster on September 1 ensured T1 could no longer finish below fourth place, which was enough to qualify thanks to the additional berth earned through Hanwha Life's MSI title.

After losing 3-2 to Hanwha Life in the upper bracket, T1 defeated Dplus KIA 3-1 to stay alive in the tournament. Its run ended in the lower-bracket final with a 3-1 loss to HLE, leaving T1 third in the LCK and giving the reigning world champion the region's third seed at Worlds.

Seed 4: Dplus KIA

After winning EWC 2026, Dplus KIA completes the LCK lineup at Worlds 2026 (Image: EWC)

Dplus KIA had to secure its qualification through the lower bracket. After defeating BNK FEARX 3-2, the team faced KT Rolster on September 4 and won the series 3-1. The result secured DK a place among the LCK's top four and confirmed the final South Korean berth at Worlds.

Dplus then lost 3-1 to T1 in the following round and finished the playoffs in fourth place. With Hanwha Life's MSI title giving the LCK an additional Worlds berth, fourth place was enough for DK to qualify as South Korea's final representative.

Do the LCK Teams Play in the Worlds 2026 Play-In Stage?

None of the LCK's four representatives will compete in the Worlds 2026 Play-In Stage. The format sends the lowest-seeded teams from multi-bid regions that did not win MSI into the opening stage. Because Hanwha Life won MSI 2026, even the LCK's fourth seed, Dplus KIA, advances directly to the Swiss Stage.

The Play-In Stage will feature four teams in a double-elimination bracket played entirely as best-of-five series. Only one team will advance, completing the 16-team field for the Swiss Stage.

When Does Worlds 2026 Start?

Worlds 2026 begins on October 15 with the Play-In Stage at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. With all four LCK teams qualified directly for the Swiss Stage, South Korea's participation begins on October 23 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.

The Swiss Stage runs from October 23 to 31. The Knockout Stage will take place from November 3 to 8, also in Allen, while the grand final is scheduled for November 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. See all the teams qualified for Worlds 2026.

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Featured image credit: Riot Games

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