This Team Could Play Worlds 2026 After Being Relegated to Tier 2

Imagine reaching the final of your country's Tier 1 league, qualifying for the League of Legends World Championship, and still being one series away from potentially returning to Tier 2.

That is exactly where LOS find themselves in Brazil. The organization has already secured a spot at Worlds 2026 and will play in the CBLOL 2026 Split 2 Grand Final, but its place in Brazil's top league for next season is still not guaranteed.

LOS Reach the CBLOL Final and Qualify for Worlds

On September 27, LOS defeated LOUD 3-2 in the Upper Bracket Final, securing both a place in the CBLOL Grand Final and qualification for Worlds 2026.

LOS took the first two games before LOUD answered back in Games 3 and 4 to force a decider. In Game 5, LOS closed out the series with a dominant performance and became the first Brazilian team confirmed for this year's World Championship.

The CBLOL Grand Final will take place on October 10 in Rio de Janeiro, with LOS facing the winner of the Lower Bracket Final between LOUD and FURIA. Their Worlds spot is already guaranteed, while winning the title would give them Brazil's first seed.

Why LOS Still Have to Fight for Their Tier 1 Spot

Despite all that, LOS entered the 2026 season as the CBLOL's Guest Team, a position that is not automatically renewed for the following year.

The system is meant to keep a path open between Tier 1 and South America's Tier 2 ecosystem. The current Guest Team must defend its place in the Promotion Tournament regardless of how well it performs in the CBLOL.

LOS spent 2025 in the Tier 2 Circuito Desafiante before returning to the CBLOL as the Guest Team for 2026. Less than a year later, they are in the domestic final and qualified for Worlds, but still need one more series win to secure another season in Tier 1.

LOS Are Already in the Promotion Final

The Promotion Tournament also includes Estral Esports, KaBuM! Ilha das Lendas, 9z Globant and Golden Lions, with only the winner earning the Guest Team slot for CBLOL 2027.

LOS have made it through the tournament without dropping a series. They beat KaBuM! Ilha das Lendas 3-0 on September 30, then swept Circuito Desafiante champions Estral Esports by the same score one day later to reach the Promotion Grand Final.

LOS Could Go to Worlds Already Relegated to Tier 2

LOS secured a spot at Worlds 2026, but their place in the CBLOL for next season is still not guaranteed. (Photo: CBLOL)

LOS will play the CBLOL Grand Final on October 10. Two days later, on October 12, they will play the Promotion Grand Final with their place in the 2027 CBLOL on the line.

That creates a scenario that would normally sound impossible: LOS could become CBLOL champions and qualify for Worlds as Brazil's first seed, then lose the Promotion final two days later and give up their Tier 1 spot for 2027.

If that happens, LOS would head into Worlds 2026 already knowing that their next domestic season will be played in Tier 2. Brazil could even send its reigning national champion to the World Championship after that same team had already lost its place in the country's top league for the following season.

Community Questions the Format and Schedule

The format and schedule have drawn attention from both international and Brazilian League of Legends fans.

Before LOS had even secured their Worlds spot, a Reddit discussion was already pointing out the possibility of the organization winning the CBLOL, qualifying for Worlds and still returning to the Circuito Desafiante in the same season.

One user joked:

"I'm just waiting for them to lose in the promotion match and win Worlds."

Another questioned Riot's scheduling:

"Wtf is that scheduling?"

The complaints are not only about the two finals. LOS defeated KaBuM! Ilha das Lendas on September 30 and had to return the next day for another best-of-five against Estral Esports, only days after their five-game CBLOL series against LOUD.

Another user also pointed to the short turnaround between the CBLOL final and Worlds:

"Also it’s insane that their finals is October 10th and worlds play ins starts October 15th. So they have to fly on the 11th probably do media on the 12th. So they don’t get to scrim anyone/learn new patch/play better solo q with other worlds players. It’s insane that riot controls so much of the calendar and still can’t get basic shit right."

The reaction has been similar in Brazil. One widely discussed thread described the situation as "the insanity of CBLOL", with users questioning both the format itself and the competitive burden placed on the Guest Team.

Still, this was not a loophole discovered halfway through the season. Riot Games had already established that the Guest Team position would have to be defended regardless of CBLOL results.

For LOS, that leaves one final step. They are already in the CBLOL final and already qualified for Worlds, but their domestic future will not be decided until the Promotion Grand Final on October 12.

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Featured image credit: CBLOL // Riot Games

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