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Esports2 min readBy Lolumen

Worlds 2026: the Swiss Stage starts October 23

Karmine Corp won the Play-In, and sixteen teams now play the Swiss Stage in Allen, Texas, before the final in Brooklyn on November 14. The schedule, the format and the field.

The Worlds 2026 schedule: the Play-In October 15–18 in Los Angeles, the Swiss Stage October 23–31 in Allen, Texas, the quarterfinals and semifinals November 3–8, and the final on November 14 at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

The Play-In is done and the main event starts on October 23. Worlds 2026 is in the United States this year, across three cities, and runs to a final at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on November 14. Every game is played on Patch 26.20.

The schedule

  • Play-In: October 15–18 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles.
  • Swiss Stage: October 23–31 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.
  • Quarterfinals and semifinals: November 3–8, also in Allen.
  • Final: November 14 at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

How the Swiss Stage works

Sixteen teams play up to five rounds, each time against a team with the same record. Three wins and you're in the quarterfinals; three losses and you're out. The first eight teams to three wins advance. The first two rounds are best-of-one, which is where upsets happen. The knockout stage is single elimination.

Karmine Corp won the Play-In

Four teams fought for one Swiss spot in a double-elimination bracket of best-of-fives:

  • Karmine Corp 3–2 Cloud9 KIA, and MVK Esports 3–0 FURIA in the first round.
  • Karmine Corp 3–0 MVK Esports, to reach the qualification match.
  • FURIA 3–1 Cloud9 KIA, which knocked out Cloud9.
  • MVK Esports 3–1 FURIA, sending FURIA home and setting up a rematch.
  • Karmine Corp 3–0 MVK Esports on October 18, for the last place in the Swiss Stage.

Karmine Corp beat MVK without dropping a game across both meetings.

Who's in the Swiss Stage

  • LCK (Korea): Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, Dplus KIA.
  • LPL (China): Anyone's Legend, Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Invictus Gaming.
  • LEC (EMEA): G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, Karmine Corp.
  • LCS (North America): Team Liquid Alienware, LYON.
  • LCP (Asia-Pacific): Team Secret Whales, CTBC Flying Oyster.
  • CBLOL (Brazil): Los Grandes.

Korea and China bring four teams each. T1 arrives as three-time defending champions, after winning in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Hanwha Life won MSI this year, and Gen.G won the LCK season.

What's next

Round 1 is on October 23, with all eight matches that day. Our Swiss Round 1 post has every matchup and time. We'll follow the Swiss Stage as it goes.

While you wait, the daily League Classic puzzle has a new champion every day.

Sources

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