Meet the ENC 26 Field: League of Legends

All six players on South Korea’s roster are former League of Legends World Champions. Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok reunite after winning back-to-back World Championships together with T1, forming the core of a roster unmatched in international pedigree. They are joined by Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo, the 2022 World Champion who shares mid lane duties with Faker, and Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu, the 2020 World Champion and one of the most accomplished junglers in League of Legends history.

South Korea may enter as the tournament favorite, but the rest of the field is loaded with international experience. Western nations bring players who have competed at the highest level in North America and Europe, while China fields a roster of accomplished LPL veterans. With so much elite talent representing national colors, the race for the inaugural ENC title is far more open than it may first appear.

Leading the charge

Team China enters ENC 26 as South Korea's biggest challenger. Featuring a roster stacked with LPL veterans who consistently compete against Korean teams at international events, China has the talent and experience to contend for the inaugural title. It is no surprise that China and South Korea finished first and second in the ENC Rankings, making a meeting in the Grand Final a real possibility.

Europe, however, should not be overlooked. European teams have built a reputation for upsetting Asian powerhouses on the international stage, and several nations have the experience to do it again. Spain and France stand out in particular, fielding rosters filled with players who have spent years competing at the highest level of European and international League of Legends.

Flying under the radar

Both the United States and Canada arrive with lineups featuring North America's top talent. Although the region has often fallen short of expectations on the international stage, the blend of experienced veterans and rising stars gives both nations every opportunity to make a deep run at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup title.

New rivalries begin here

Existing rivalries from traditional sports and international League of Legends add another layer of intrigue to ENC 26. Spain and France have one of Europe's fiercest sporting rivalries, fueled by decades of clashes on football's biggest stages and countless meetings across international competition. Across the Atlantic, the United States and Canada have long battled for North American bragging rights, with every matchup carrying extra significance regardless of the sport.

League of Legends at Esports Nations Cup 2026 runs from November 21-29, with 32 national teams competing for a share of the $1,500,000 prize pool and the honor of becoming the inaugural ENC winners. Follow the action as one nation makes history and claims the first League of Legends title.