After a disappointing format for the 2025 LEC Summer Split, Riot Games is aiming to revolutionize the league for the start of the 2026 season. With a new-look format, the LEC is set to include two teams from EMEA Masters during the new Kickoff tournament, which will replace the traditional Winter Split.
With Los Ratones dominating the EMEA Tier-2 scene, they appear ready to become the first team invited to join the LEC for the first tournament of the new year.
LEC Kickoff 2026: A Winter Revolution
The Winter Split is no more. According to a report by Sheep Esports, the LEC will launch a new format to start the 2026 season: Kickoff.
This new Kickoff Tournament will feature a total of 12 teams. These will be the 10 regular LEC teams, plus 2 additional teams from the EMEA Tier-2 scene. These two teams will be the best-performing team across the 2025 EMEA Masters year and the 2025 EMEA Masters Summer Champions.
After winning every single tournament they have played at in 2025 so far, Los Ratones are set to be the first Tier-2 team invited to the brand-new LEC Kickoff Tournament. If Los Ratones also go on to win the EMEA Masters Summer tournament, then the event's finalists will become the second team invited to the LEC in 2026.
Nemesis, Rekkles, and Crownie look set to return to the LEC once more. (Credit: NLC)Los Ratones to First Stand?
It's worth noting that the winners of the LEC Kickoff tournament will qualify to First Stand 2026. Set to take place in Brazil, the first international tournament of the new year will pit the best teams from all over the world against one another.
This means that, were Los Ratones able to win Kickoff, we might get the chance to see them compete against League of Legends powerhouses like T1 or Gen.G.
What About the Remainder of the LEC 2026 Season?
For now, it appears that Los Ratones and the second invited team will only get to participate in the LEC during Kickoff. Afterwards, the LEC will return to its regular 10-team lineup for both the Spring and Summer Splits.
While the prospect of seeing Los Ratones qualify for Worlds 2026 would be entertaining, it appears this will not be possible. This decision was made in order for LEC organizations to retain a higher value.
At the time, remains unclear whether this will be a one-time thing, or if we can expect further Tier-2 integration in the LEC moving forward. The 2026 Kickoff Tournament will provide a good testing ground for this new format, with any decisions regarding the future likely depending on the results of the project.
For now, you can continue to follow Los Ratones' journey at the 2025 EMEA Masters Summer, where they will look to continue their pursuit of the elusive Golden Road.
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Featured image credit: Joao Ferreira/Riot Games
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