ShowMaker, Xun, and Cloud9... The most anticipated returns at Worlds 2026

A spot at Worlds isn’t given, it’s earned. For years, countless legends have graced the Rift, but not all have had the chance to compete on its biggest stage. This year is no different, with several familiar names making their return to the largest League of Legends esports event of the season, looking to reclaim their place among the best and prove once again why they belong at the top.

With only a few days to go before the action begins, Sheep Esports takes a closer look at the stories behind some of Worlds 2026’s most anticipated returns. From players who have spent years away from the international stage to teams finally finding their way back, here are the comebacks that could make this year’s tournament even more memorable.

If there’s one Korean player who belongs on this list, it has to be . Long regarded as one of the best midlaners in the world, the 26-year-old is back at Worlds this year after missing last year’s edition. However, will enter the tournament as the LCK’s fourth seed, leaving plenty of questions over how far the team can go. That said, fourth seeds have a surprisingly strong history at Worlds: three of the last four editions have been won by Korea’s fourth seed, with doing so twice and claiming the title in 2022.

Beyond ShowMaker himself, Dplus KIA will be the only team making its return to Worlds this year from the LCK and LPL. Indeed, China is sending the same four teams as in 2025, while the LCK has only replaced KT Rolster with Dplus KIA. Having built a massive legacy under the DAMWON name, the organization has struggled to re-establish itself as a true powerhouse since its rebrand, falling short of the heights it reached in its earlier years. Perhaps 2026 could finally be the year Dplus KIA turns things around.

Despite struggling during the LCK playoffs, Dplus KIA were the region’s strongest regular-season teams by the end of the split, finishing Rounds 3 and 4 as the winningest teams of that phase. Now, they will have to translate that form to the international stage. Can ShowMaker and Dplus KIA put on a show once again?

If you think of the world’s best junglers in recent years, ’s name has to be in the conversation. Perhaps the best Chinese jungler of his generation, he established himself as a formidable force over the years, despite missing Worlds last year following his departure from . Now back with the team, Xun will have another chance to lead BLG to its first Worlds title and help China reclaim the Summoner’s Cup, with the region having failed to win the tournament since in 2021.

A lot of pressure rests on his shoulders this year as the team’s only returning player, but Xun has repeatedly shown that he can handle even the most demanding situations. Earlier this year, he helped BLG claim the First Stand title before coming just one game short of winning the Mid-Season Invitational as well. Now, he will look to carry that momentum into Worlds. Can Xun finally complete the journey and lift the Summoner’s Cup?

Once upon a time, was synonymous with stability and success on the international stage. In recent years, however, the organization’s name has instead become associated with falling short of expectations. Now, in 2026, after missing the past two editions, the team that helped shape North American League of Legends in its early years is finally back at Worlds.

Five-time quarterfinalists and one-time semifinalists, Cloud9, will begin their 2026 campaign in the Play-In Stage. The question now is whether they can once again reach the heights of their early years. As North America’s third seed, the odds may be stacked against them, but that has never stopped Cloud9 before.

For them, this tournament will mark the first international appearance for both of their Korean solo laners, while their three North American residents will all be returning to Worlds after several years away. Among them is the crab wrangler himself, , who has grown alongside the organization since joining in 2018 and was part of the roster that secured Cloud9’s best-ever Worlds finish that same year.

Another intriguing storyline will be head coach Christian "IWDominate" Rivera’s return to the international stage, having last competed at Worlds in Season 2, a full 14 years ago. With a mix of established veterans and fresh faces, can Cloud9 shock the world once again?

While perhaps not as compelling as the stories above, plenty of other comebacks will add to the storylines surrounding this year’s Worlds. In Europe, fans will get to see Luka "Perkz" Perković return to the tournament as a head coach, representing for the first time since Worlds 2020. Meanwhile, will make his first Worlds appearance under the banner.

Former World Champion jungler will also make his long-awaited return with . However, the team has recently run into visa issues, casting some doubt over whether Tian and his teammates will be able to make the most of their Worlds campaign.

Last but certainly not least, Argentina’s pride will be another player to watch. His last and only Worlds appearance came in 2020, meaning he will return to the tournament six years later as a newly crowned LCS champion. With both Latin America and North America behind him, Josedeodo will have a chance to re-establish himself on the international stage and show just how far he has come since his first appearance.