On Friday, the final chapter of the
LEC 2026 season will begin, with ten teams set to battle for Europe's last title of the year and the three coveted spots at the
World Championship in the United States. After two splits won by
and an unchanged top four throughout the season, several roster moves made following the Spring Split could reshape the region's competitive hierarchy.
Before the final stage of the LEC season gets underway, Sheep Esports takes a look at the biggest storylines and key questions to follow heading into the competition.
Who will make Worlds?
The biggest objective of the split is, without question, qualification for the World Championship. At the moment, the LEC's top three have established a clear gap over the rest of the field, making them difficult to catch. G2 Esports,
, and
(who would qualify for the first World Championship in the organization's history), currently hold a significant advantage over their closest challengers.
If the expected scenario plays out, it would also mark the first time since 2016 that
fail to qualify for
League of Legends' biggest event. Following the arrival of
, the organization hopes the roster change will inject fresh momentum after disappointing results in the previous two splits.
A new era for G2?
The biggest change of the offseason came at G2 Esports, where Dylan Falco departed as Head Coach right after the Mid-Season Invitational and was replaced by former franchise player Luka "Perkz" Perković. The former midlaner and AD Carry begins his first stint as a head coach with a team that has dominated the LEC throughout the season.
The biggest question now is whether Perkz can maintain the level G2 reached under Falco or even improve upon it, as the organization looks to establish itself as a stronger contender on the international stage.
Last dance for KOI?
Following G2's runner-up finish at First Stand and top-four placement at MSI, as well as Karmine Corp's run to the Esports World Cup Grand Final, Movistar KOI have so far struggled to keep pace with the rest of the LEC's leading trio. Their international campaign this season lasted just two defeats at the Esports World Cup.
With the end of the season approaching and several contracts yet to be renewed, this could represent a final opportunity for players such as
and
, who have been with the team since the MAD Lions KOI merger in 2024, to prove that they remain part of the organization's long-term plans. The recent arrival of academy toplaner
in Berlin to work alongside the main roster only adds further weight to that possibility.
All or nothing for GIANTX and Team Vitality?
Despite an impressive regular season,
completely collapsed in the playoffs, failing to win a single series. The disappointment prompted the organization to make a change in the mid lane, bringing in
ahead of the Summer Split.
, meanwhile, appeared to have reached their ceiling after back-to-back top-four finishes this season. In response, the organization made significant changes by signing
and promoting
from their academy roster.
Both organizations have opted for bold moves at a crucial point in the season. Whether those decisions will prove enough to secure a place at the World Championship remains one of the split's biggest questions.
