ZFGK, Wunder-Caps, Inspired-Busio... Esports Nations Cup will reunite some of League’s most iconic players

With the Esports Nations Cup, League of Legends will stage its first-ever nation-based competition this November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing the game closer to traditional international sport. Taking place from November 21 to November 29, the event will bring together many of the world’s best players under flags they do not usually represent.

With the qualification phase now complete, the full list of nations heading to Riyadh is known, and the tournament is already shaping up to deliver several long-awaited reunions. For longtime League of Legends fans, it will be a rare chance to see former teammates line up together again on the international stage.

Of the 32 teams in the tournament, 11 will come from Europe, and the region’s deep talent pool has created several eye-catching combinations. Denmark, for instance, will reunite Rasmus “” Winther and Martin “” Hansen, two players who shared some of the biggest moments of their careers together, including ’ MSI 2019 title, one of only two international trophies ever won by the region.

France will also feature a familiar core from ’s golden era. While the final starting lineup has yet to be confirmed, Adam "" Maanane, Théo "" Borile, and Ilias "" Bizriken are set to reunite under the French banner, which is already considered one of the favorites. Their chemistry could prove decisive, although Rudy "" Semaan, currently in the best form of his career with G2, could still be preferred over Sheo.

Poland will provide another notable reunion, with Kacper "" Słoma returning to European teammates he has not played with in years. After moving to North America in 2022, he will link up again with Adrian "" Trybus, his former Rogue teammate, as well as Alan "" Cwalina, with whom he built a dominant partnership during two years at FlyQuest in 2024 and 2025.

Belgium came through the Western Europe ENC qualifier with Yasin “” Dinçer and Gabriel “” Rau reunited under the same banner, recalling their 2021 season together at . That year also marked Bwipo’s move from toplane to jungle, and their new partnership inevitably brings back memories of their difficult final international run together at Worlds 2021. Still, those setbacks do not seem to have weighed on them, as Belgium became one of the two Western European teams, alongside Germany, to qualify through the June 21 qualifier.

Sweden’s roster is also likely to draw plenty of attention, especially for former fans. Martin "" Larsson and Simon "" Hofverberg will once again share a team, bringing back one of the most recognizable duos on the scene.

If two nations enter as clear favorites, they are China and South Korea. Both arrive with the highest point totals and the most decorated players in the competition, including several names who have already won the biggest titles in League of Legends together.

South Korea’s roster will feature a near-complete reunion of ’s miracle generation from recent years. With Choi "" Woo-je, Lee "" Sang-hyeok, Lee "" Min-hyeong, and Ryu "" Min-seok all selected, the roster is packed with history and some of the defining moments in the game’s modern era. Mun "" Hyeon-jun was not selected for the event, with Kim "" Geon-bu taking his place.

China, meanwhile, will field three players from in the final roster. Among them is Zhuo "" Ding, the most decorated midlaner in LPL history, who reunites with former teammates he has not played alongside in years. Gao "" Tian-Liang, with whom he began his career in China’s second division before reaching two LPL finals and the 2022 World Championship, is one of them. Yu "" Wen-Bo is the other major reunion, with knight having spent three years alongside the star ADC at , including their famous Summer 2020 title.

Chinese Taipei will also be represented by three members of the dominant 2025 roster. Yu "" Chun-Chia, Tsai "" Ming-Hong, and Chiu "" Tzu-Chuanwon all three splits of the LCP’s inaugural year in 2025 and arrive with strong synergy and plenty of confidence.

Vietnam has also leaned into familiarity. Lê "" Văn Hoàng Hải, Trần "" Duy Đức, Hoàng "" Công Nghĩa, and Đinh "" Anh Tài all come from ’ 2025 roster, while Trần "" Duy Sang joins them on toplane. With several of those players already sharing time together at , the lineup offers plenty of natural in-game experience.

North America's two biggest countries also feature notable reunions of players who have shared stages before. For Canada, Joseph "" Pyun will reunite with Jade "" Libut, a partnership that dates back to the amateur and collegiate scene in 2020, before Jojopyun entered the official academy circuit in 2021. They will be joined by Philippe "" Laflamme, a veteran support with significant international experience who teamed with Jojopyun on the promising Evil Geniuses roster from 2022 to 2024.

For the United States, the tournament offers Eain "" Stearns a chance to reconnect with Sean "" Sung. The pair spent three years together at as a dominant carry duo, lifting two LCS titles. They will be flanked by Niship "" Doshi and Choi "" Jae-hyun, who previously played alongside them at in 2024.