Germany and Belgium qualify to ENC 2026 LoL tournament through Europe West qualifier

Another qualifier comes to a close, and this time it’s Germany and Belgium who have secured their tickets to the 2026 League of Legends Esports Nations Cup after finishing at the top of the Europe West regional qualifier.

As one of the most anticipated regions, the online tournament featured several strong teams, including multiple players with former high-ranking ERL or even LEC experience. Despite the depth of the field, only two teams could advance from the fourteen participants. EMEA will, by far, be the most represented region at the ENC, with 14 teams among a total of 32 competitors.

Germany, in particular, delivered an impressive run throughout the qualifier. While they opened with a relatively straightforward win against Norway, their later victories over Belgium and the Netherlands—both lower-bracket finalists—were far from easy. Still, the squad finished undefeated at 4–0. Belgium, meanwhile, also progressed through the qualifier with minimal setbacks, losing only a single game to Germany and closing out their run at 6–1.

The two teams will now compete in the ENC Play-In stage alongside 22 other participants, including eight directly invited teams based on national rankings. The 24 teams will be split into four groups of six, each playing a double round-robin of best-of-one matches within their group. The top two teams from each group will progress to the tournament’s main group stage.

A story of dominance, Germany did not hold back. If anything, many were surprised the team even appeared in the qualifiers—especially as it remains, to this day, one of the strongest producers of talent in Europe and firmly part of the “trifecta” alongside France and Spain, both of whom received direct invitations to the main event. In that context, their sheer dominance in the qualifiers came as little surprise.

Still, both Belgium and the Netherlands put up strong fights of their own, pushing Germany to its limits. Even so, largely off the back of its solo laners, Germany proved too strong for the rest of the competition in the regional qualifier. Former LEC players and were in top form, ready to take on any opponent, much to the dismay of their adversaries.

Now the question is whether this roster can translate its results onto the international stage. Historically, the players on Germany’s 2026 lineup have often been considered too strong for the ERLs, yet only average within the LEC. This tournament will mark a first international experience for many members of the roster, and a major opportunity to prove they still have what it takes.

A country often overlooked on the European stage due to its proximity to France and the Benelux region’s historically modest performances at EMEA Masters in past years, Belgium asserted itself this weekend with a nearly flawless showing, besting its regional rivals and finishing at the top of the lower bracket.

Most notably, the squad had to play the entirety of the qualifier with a substitute due to the absence of bi-national jungler , who was competing in Korea during the event. As a result, was moved back to the jungle—a role he has experience in throughout his career—while stepped into the toplane. Fortunately for the team, the substitute proved to be a reliable asset, delivering strong performances throughout the tournament despite having no recent ERL experience and primarily being a solo queue player.

With victories over Malta, Portugal, Switzerland, and finally the Netherlands, the squad established itself as a serious contender throughout the qualifiers—potentially on a similar level to Germany, had the two teams met again, as their earlier encounter was only a best-of-one series. With four current and former LEC players in its lineup, Belgium is shaping up to be a dangerous force heading into the ENC Play-In in November. The team will now enjoy a well-earned break, though they will need to remain sharp in order to perform in what will be a highly competitive format.

Germany and Belgium will now advance to the 2026 ENC Play-In stage, set to begin on November 21. Until then, both teams will need to refine their preparations and carry forward the momentum built during their regional qualifiers, as they prepare to face some of the strongest nations in the world on the international stage.