Riot says League of Legends World Cup event is a possibility

Riot Games is actively developing plans for an innovative international competition structure that would revolutionize how professional League of Legends players represent their competitive affiliations. According to CEO Nicolo Laurent’s recent statements, this new tournament concept would function similarly to traditional sports World Cups, where athletes compete under their national flags rather than their club or regional league banners.

During an extensive conversation with French sports publication L’Équipe, Laurent detailed Riot’s forward-thinking approach to expanding the esports ecosystem. The executive revealed that substantive discussions are underway with the International Olympic Committee regarding the potential hosting of a landmark international event in France during 2024, signaling a major strategic expansion of League’s competitive landscape.

The proposed League of Legends World Cup format represents a fundamental shift from the current regional league system that governs professional play. This structural change would allow fans to witness national pride take center stage in competitive League of Legends for the first time in the game’s esports history.

This groundbreaking World Cup-style competition could potentially align with the 2024 Olympic Games in France, creating an unprecedented bridge between traditional sports and esports. Laurent emphasized that while discussions with the International Olympic Committee are progressing, no definitive agreements have been reached regarding the format, timing, or official recognition of such an event. The potential collaboration represents a significant opportunity for League of Legends to establish formal recognition within the Olympic movement framework.

The League of Legends community has consistently expressed desire for additional international competition opportunities beyond the current two major annual events. The Mid-Season Invitational and World Championship, while prestigious, leave substantial gaps in the competitive calendar where fans crave cross-regional matchups.

Riot had previously indicated that changes were imminent for the international competition structure, but Laurent’s specific revelation about national team representation marks a dramatic departure from established formats. This approach would enable scenarios where Korean players currently competing in North America could represent South Korea, creating authentic national team dynamics similar to those seen in our Class Guide for optimal team composition strategies.

For the competitive scene, this innovation addresses long-standing requests for more frequent international play. A properly implemented World Cup would showcase never-before-possible roster combinations, testing players’ abilities in entirely new competitive contexts. This aligns with the strategic thinking we explore in our Complete Guide to tournament formats. The potential for national pride to intersect with elite competitive play could elevate League of Legends esports to unprecedented levels of mainstream recognition and engagement.

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