Cloud9 is the first team to go out of LoL Worlds 2026

Naerlyn Published October 19, 2026

The League of Legends World Championship 2026 is the first LoL international that Cloud9 has managed to attend since Worlds 2023. However, they lost their only two series and are the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. Finishing in 19th place, maybe it’d have been better if they hadn’t qualified in the first place.

Cloud9 is the first team eliminated from LoL Worlds 2026

C9 played the opening match of LoL Worlds 2026 against Karmine Corp. This was both the long-awaited next episode in the EU-NA rivalry, and the first time these two teams met.

At MSI, KC lost to Team Liquid 3-0 and G2 Esports then had the same score against LYON. The odds looked neither in KC’s favor, nor in EU’s in general.

However, Karmine Corp ended up winning 3-2. Cloud9 won games 1 and 3, and was very close to winning game 2 as well. Ultimately, they threw the second map, and KC ended up taking the fourth and fifth ones afterwards.

At the same time, FURIA had a devastating loss against MVK Esports. When the two met in the lower bracket, the outcome was obvious. C9 had a close bout against KC, while FURIA stood no chance against their opponent. However, Brazil’s second seed pulled it off again.

Cloud9 loses to FURIA for the third time in 2026, finishes 19th at LoL Worlds. Image Credit: Stefan Wisnoski / Riot Games

Cloud9 keeps losing to the CBLOL

Today, FURIA beat C9 3-1. Cloud9 had a great first game, just like yesterday when they obliterated KC on the first map. Then, they kept having a good early on each map. The problem is that they never managed to play the mid game properly.

This is the third time that FUR beats C9 this year. In the Americas Cup, FURIA beat them 2-0, then 3-0. At the time, fans brought up excuses like jet lag, fatigue, and lack of stakes for the tournament.

Now at Worlds, in Los Angeles of all places, none of these apply. In the biggest tournament of the year, C9 just failed to reach the main stage after qualifying for the first time since 2023. Worse, they are the first eliminated team, making them officially the single worst team of LoL Worlds 2026.

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Featured Image Credit: Stefan Wisnoski / Riot Games

Related Stats:

Cloud9 Worlds 2026 Group Stage