The bracket for the MSI 2026 Play-Ins Stage is now confirmed, with T1 taking on Team Liquid as the opening match — set for June 28 at 5 AM CEST — followed by . As a reminder, the Play-Ins run as a double-elimination bracket, with only .
The bracket for the MSI 2026 Play-Ins Stage is now confirmed, with T1 taking on Team Liquid as the opening match — set for June 28 at 5 AM CEST — followed by . As a reminder, the Play-Ins run as a double-elimination bracket, with only .
Per the official rulebook, the two best-performing regions at First Stand present at the Play-Ins — excluding the First Stand champion, whose region (the LPL) sends its second seed directly to the Main Stage — are matched against the two regions that posted the weakest performances at First Stand. This year, the LCP, having delivered the worst showing, was drawn against the LEC, the strongest Play-Ins performer after reaching the final. Meanwhile, the LCK (semifinalist) and the LCS (one series win) were drawn against each other.
The rulebook has also confirmed how the Bracket Stage (Main Event) draw show will operate: the pools are split into four tiers, also based on First Stand performances. Pool 1 holds the Spring champions of the two First Stand finalist regions — BLG and G2, who were ironically also the two First Stand finalists. Pool 2 holds the champions of the two second-place First Stand regions, LYON and HLE.
Pool 3 features the champions of the two weakest First Stand regions, FURIA and Secret Whales, while Pool 4 contains Top Esports alongside the team emerging from the Play-Ins.
There's a further wrinkle: teams cannot be drawn against an opponent from their own region. Since Pool 4 is drawn against Pool 1, this already locks in the matchups for both Pool 1 teams.
As the LPL's second seed, Top Esports cannot face BLG (also LPL), meaning G2 will play Top Esports no matter what — a rematch of their Worlds 2025 quarterfinal. By elimination, whichever team emerges from the Play-Ins will face BLG in its opening Bracket Stage match.
