The road to Riyadh is underway. The Esports Nations Cup 2026 League of Legends qualifiers are running across seven continental brackets, with national teams scrapping for the few automatic slots still on offer at the November showpiece. Here's the lay of the land after the latest day of play in each region — and the matchups worth circling on today's schedule.
Europe West
The favourites took care of business, and Belgium were the standout name: they swept both of their matches despite playing without Isma, a serious absence on paper that never showed on the Rift. Germany and Italy entered later thanks to their seeding byes into the upper bracket's second round, keeping the two strongest sides on a collision course.
That collision arrives today. The pick of the EUW slate is the heavyweight clash between the two front-runners of the qualifier — Germany vs Belgium — a game that should set the tone for who controls the upper bracket.
Europe East
Another bracket that ran to seed. Croatia look the part, with Luka "Perkz" Perković back in the saddle and steering the ship as a vocal in-game leader — exactly the veteran presence this roster was built around. Lithuania, meanwhile, delivered on expectations behind what is arguably the best mid-jungle duo of the entire qualifier in Lyncas and .
