Historically, support is often the most overlooked role when identifying team win conditions in
League of Legends. However, innovative flanks, crucial hooks, and immaculate peel will be lauded and have flipped public perception of the role. Gone are the days when support players were labeled vision bots, as they've become quiet leaders and highly mechanical talents.
The
2026 World Championship, starting
October 15th, will bring the 19 best supports across the regions to the United States to challenge for the Summoner’s Cup. Who will lead their team
through trials, tribulations, patches, and legends to emerge victorious?
Champion once more
For the last four years, one support has ruled them all: Ryu “
" Min-seok. The current back-to-back-to-back World Champion has built an incredible legacy and permanently written his name into T1’s history books by spearheading the team’s second dynasty. In 2026, the Korean has mostly played Milio and Lulu, and shone on the former, one of this year’s most prevalent picks. His Bard play needs no introduction, and wary teams will have to keep an eye on the world’s role model on the Wandering Caretaker.
However, he’s not the only player looking to add another Summoner’s Cup to his record. Both Tian “
" Ye and Jo “
" Yong-in, the 2021 winner and 2017 winner, respectively, would prove that age doesn’t matter and shock the scene. The Chinese posted a 5.3 KDA at the LPL Grand Finals, mostly shining on enchanters and his pocket pick Thresh. Meanwhile, the Korean dominated the LCS playoffs, whether piloting enchanters or engage.
Chasing the glory
Reaching the pinnacle is a mentally taxing process because it requires balancing practice, talent, effort, and passion. Victory alleviates this mental burden, but what happens when you can never clear the last hurdle? Luo “
" Wen-Jun and BLG won the
2026 First Stand, but the LPL Grand Finals was a seen-before collapse. On the back of his 94.7% Seraphine win rate, ON chases this year's Summoner's Cup.
The last time the
Mid-Season Invitational champion won Worlds, North America hosted, and the LCK’s #2 seed won. Ten years later, HLE arrives at Worlds 2026 on the same path SKT T1 took to capture its third Worlds. The problem Yoo “
" Hwan-joong and HLE have is clearing the quarterfinals. The Oranges could be worried, as Delight had the most deaths during the LCK 2026 Season Playoffs, but clutchness in teamfights is unquestioned.
High expectations for a sophomore World Championship could crumble even the best player, but Kim “
" Jin-hong and Joo “
" Min-kyu are cut from a different cloth. The former has been underwhelming on some meta enchanters, but flaunts a 66% win rate on Neeko, Bard, and Rell. The latter boasts a 66% win rate on all six champions he has played at least 10 times. The LPL and LCK's first seeds will rely on innovation and stability to capitalize on their favorite label.
Seven-year drought
Only Lee “
Wolf" Jee-wan with SKT T1 in 2015, Wang “
Baolan” Liu-Yi with IG, and Lee “
Crisp” Qing-Song with FPX have won the World Championship as debutants. Oh “
" Hyeong-seok is one of the three possible names that could be added to the list. The first-year player finished second in Kill Participation and First Blood%, and performed admirably in the roaming support meta with DKIA.
The second player is Wang “
" Xu-Zhuo, probably an unexpected name given his long career. TES’s support led in KDA, came second in Kill Participation, and last in Death Share%, even if the team quickly bombed out of the LPL Grand Finals. He has a 66% win rate on hook champions. The final entrant is Nguyễn “
” Hoàng Lam from MVK Esports. The Vietnamese have low chances on paper, but their characteristic aggressiveness could catch other Play-In teams off-guard.
Hard work pays off
Reaching the World Championship is a massive accomplishment, but not everyone can be a mainstay. Players like Trần "
" Đức Hiếu and Jonah “
" Rosario return after a one- and five-year absence, respectively. The Vietnamese has the 18th-best KDA in the world and is crazy enough to play Skarner and
LeBlanc. Meanwhile, the Australian resurged on an impressive LYON squad, posting a 31% counter-pick rate, and showing versatility across metas and champions.
Philippe “
" Laflamme and Chu Wu “
" Hsin-Jung love qualifying to Worlds when it’s in North America, as their last appearance was back in 2022. The Canadian led the LCS playoffs in Kill Participation, second in KDA and First Blood rate, all while having a smaller champion pool where his Seraphine stands out. The LCP’s aggressiveness is strong in Kino; as a result, he ranks 55th in First Blood rate and boasts his best win rate on engage champions.
Both CBLoL representatives, Gabriel “
" Aparicio and Gabriel “
”
Dzelme Oliveira, last featured at Worlds 2021. LOS have proven that Guest Slot teams can compete, thanks in part to the Argentinean’s deadly 100% win-rate Rakan that teams must fear. JoJo doesn’t fall behind, appearing inside the Top 16 KDAs and Top 37 Kill Participation worldwide. Both Gabriels were first and second in KDA and Kill Participation during the CBLoL Split 2 Playoffs.
Conquer the West
The gap between NA and Europe has narrowed to parity. This year, the LCS representatives have the LEC teams on a short leash, but now’s the time to turn the tables and ruin the host’s party. 2026 has been the revival of Lampos “
" Papoutsakis and
G2 as challengers against LPL and LCK teams, and maybe once again reach the final. The Greek excels no matter the meta, engage, roam, and peel, but his undefeated Nami is a pick to watch.
The EU convoy has an intruder in Alan “
" Cwalina, who returns to North America. KC’s support will start Worlds in the Play-ins, but he’ll need to dig in his bag of tricks to reach the Swiss Stage. The Polish-Canadian shines when allowed to counter-pick, which explains his 100% win rate on Leona, 90% on Lulu, and 87% on Rakan. Álvaro “
" Fernández and MKOI surged at the end of the LEC Summer Playoffs. The Spaniard has made Neeko his most-picked and most-won champion, as he hopes to maintain his top spot in KDA and Kill Participation from Summer.
