First Stand 2026 Group Stage matchups revealed

It’s almost time for action to begin in São Paulo, with just about a week left before the first match of First Stand 2026. The tournament, featuring a double-elimination group stage and played entirely in best-of-five series, promises to be more explosive than ever, as teams will have little margin for error if they hope to make their mark in this year’s inaugural international event.

With the draw now completed, the clock is ticking for teams to begin preparing for their opponents. While several favorites emerge from the match-ups, every team will start on equal footing—and any of them could end up playing spoiler.

In each group, even before the draw occurred, the match-ups of the LCK and LPL representatives were already determined due to the tournament’s pooling system. The bigger question was where the other regions would slot in: would they face the calculated precision of Gen.G, or the explosive style of BLG?

For context, here is a reminder of the seeding:

Now, the groups and starting match-ups for Pool 2 teams have been finalized. The LEC representatives, G2, and the LCP and Vietnamese grand champions TSW will face off and must defeat at least one of BLG or BFX. Meanwhile, the Americas’ representatives—Mexican organization LYON hailing from the LCS and Brazilian juggernaut LOUD from the CBLOL—will share their group with Gen.G and JDG.

Though the LCK and LPL champions remain heavy favorites, the balance of power in both regions has been top-heavy in recent months. BFX and JDG should not be counted out, but international inexperience for the former and uneven regional performances for the latter could open the door for other regions to make a run. After the group stage, the tournament switches to single-elimination matches, where every step is do-or-die. It will be exciting to see which teams can rise to the occasion and claim the top spot in this year’s First Stand.

First Stand is the first international event of the competitive League of Legends calendar in 2026. Bringing together top teams from major regions—including the LCK, LPL, CBLOL, LEC, LCS, and LCP—the tournament features a double-elimination group stage followed by single-elimination playoffs, all played in best-of-five series using the fearless draft format. First Stand serves as an early test of strength for the year, offering teams the chance to make a mark on the international stage, earn crucial experience, and build momentum heading into the rest of the split.