Riot Games has completed the EMEA Masters Winter 2026 Group Draw to decide the match-ups for the crucial Tier 2 League of Legends event.
The EMEA Regional League (ERL) tournament directly feeds into the new Esports World Cup qualifier. The top two (non-academy) teams at EMEA Masters Winter will compete with LEC teams for the chance to qualify for the big-money LoL tournament in Saudi Arabia.
The upcoming Group Stage follows on from the Champions Round, a new format which saw the top eight ranked teams compete for a direct bye into the Playoffs Upper Bracket, with Misa Esports, Verdant, Solary, and Movistar KOI Fénix all advancing. Meanwhile, LEC Versus participants Karmine Corp Blue and Witchcraft (formerly Los Ratones) directly qualified into the Group Stages despite not competing in an ERL this split.
The 32 Group Stage teams will compete in best-of-threes in their respective four-team groups. Each group will be double-elimination, meaning two losses will spell elimination from the competition.
Of the eight groups, only one winner from each will advance to the Playoffs for a chance to compete for the title.
EMEA Masters Winter 2026 Groups and Opening Matches
The groups and opening matches for EMEA Masters Winter are as follows:
Group A
- Barça eSports
- BRUTE
- DMG Esports
- Karmine Corp Blue
March 10, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: BRUTE vs Barça
March 10, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Karmine Corp Blue vs DMG
Group B
- Galions
- Vantex Esports
- UCAM Esports
- Bushido Wildcats
March 10, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Bushido Wildcats vs UCAM
March 10, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Vantex vs Galions
Group C
- Arctic Pandas
- Colossal Gaming
- Nightbirds
- Team Heretics Academy
March 10, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Colossal Gaming vs Artic Pandas
March 10, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Team Heretics Academy vs Nightbirds
Group D
- G2 NORD
- Lupus Esports
- Baam Esports
- Witchcraft
March 10, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Lupus vs G2 NORD
March 10, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Witchcraft vs Baam
Group E
- HMBLE
- Barcząca Esports
- French Flair
- 3BL Esports
March 11, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Barcząca vs HMBLE
March 11, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: 3BL vs French Flair
Group F
- Berlin International Gaming
- Otter Side
- S2G Esports
- Frites Esports Club
March 11, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Frite Esports Club vs S2G
March 11, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Otter Side vs BIG
Group G
- WLGaming Esports
- The Bandits
- Unicorns of Love Sexy Edition
- Partizan Sangal
March 11, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Partizan Sangal vs Unicorns of Love Sexy Edition
March 11, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: The Bandits vs WLGaming
Group H
- FN Esports
- Team Phantasma
- Bomba Team
- Eintracht Spandau
March 11, 12:00 EDT/16:00 GMT: Team Phantasma vs FN Esports
March 11, 15:00 EDT/19:00 GMT: Entracht Spandau vs Bomba Team
How do you think Witchcraft will perform after a drama-filled start for the new team? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord.
And see who LEC champions G2 Esports will face in their first international match of 2026 with the LoL First Stand opening matches
