LoL MSI Bracket matchups revealed after T1 breezes through Play-In stage

Craig Robinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 01/07/2026

The LoL MSI Play-In stage has concluded, with T1 smashing all of their series 3-0 to make it to the Main Stage. With the Play-Ins complete, we now know the draw for MSI Main Stage, with the first round match-ups and schedule revealed.

Here’s hoping T1 making it through didn’t melt your MSI pickems. But surely you all saw the inevitable coming…right?

MSI Bracket schedule

The matchups so far are as follows, often split with first seeds battling second seeds where possible, and BLG, theoretically the best team at the event, getting the play-in team, who would normally be considered the weakest team in the main stage.

Of course, that BLG vs T1 matchup is a certified banger, and a rematch from the 2024 World Finals.

Caveats aside, here are the matchups and schedules so far:

These first matches are provided via the Riot schedule shown on the stream.

The first matchup is likely a rough one for the Vietnamese representatives. Team Secret Whales scrapping will certainly be messy against Korea’s strongest line-up. The other match on July 3rd is G2 versus Top Esports. This is a classic, and it’s who G2 last did battle with before being eliminated from Worlds 2025 in the quarter finals. All eyes will be on G2, and European fans will be hoping G2 can step up internationally. G2’s track record against teams from the LPL is not the strongest, but perhaps this time it’ll be different.

On Independence Day, Lyon and Furia do battle in what is a clash between NA’s Lyon and SA’s Furia. Furia has been doing a good job against teams from the LCS, especially with the tie-in LTA event last year. So can Furia beat Lyon on the global stage? Or will Lyon advance? Answers on a postcard, please.

Last, but very much not least, rounding off the first matches is BLG and T1. Riot’s broadcast did talk about a trending interview from Bin on Chinese social media, where he’s already calling Doran bad. The heat’s already there for the continuation of a fun rivalry, before teams move to the upper and lower brackets and we delve further into MSI proper.

We’re also expecting the MSI Finals to reveal the T1 Riftbound partnership too if you’re following along with card game news.

Craig Robinson, Senior Editor

Craig began his career with Esports News UK back in 2015/2016, looking to write about a passion while studying at Manchester Metropolitan University. He stayed there for several years before moving on to other websites to begin his career after graduating. Now he's back, covering esports adjacent topics and UK stories.

All Posts By Craig Robinson