League of Legends
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Competitive hub
League of Legends
4 current competitions
League of Legends community cups, Clash, and regional NACL / ERL pathways.
Browse League of Legends competitions →Path to Pro
Region first, then Tier 2
Regional League of Legends path to pro
There is no single global amateur ladder into LCS, LEC, LCK, or LPL. Ranked is practice. Clash and community brackets are real competition but are not automatic promotion. North America’s official path is NACL. EMEA uses local ERLs. Brazil’s Circuito Desafiante still publishes open qualifiers. Korea and China’s franchise leagues have no verified public amateur open. Follow your region’s operator.
Your next step
Step 1 of 6
Use ranked as practice
Ranked builds mechanics. It does not register a team for NACL or an ERL.
In-game step — not a WinQueue listing
- Need
- Riot account
- Do
- Find four teammates who can commit to match nights.
- Where
- In-game ranked
- Next
- This step is preparation. It does not qualify you on its own.
- 01RankedYour next step
Use ranked as practice
- 02Community
Play Clash and community brackets
- 03NACL
North America: NACL
- 04ERL
EMEA: local ERL then EMEA Masters
- 05Other regions
Other regions: only where Riot publishes an open
- 06Pro leagues
LCS / LEC / international
Official path
Current official opportunities
No official LoL qualifier indexed
lolesports.com is news and spectator leagues, not a public amateur catalogue. NACL’s 2026 Spring Open Qualifier is already past; Riot published the next NA qualifier for the start of 2027. ERL entry is through local leagues, not one Riot form.
LoL EsportsNext official route
Five → your region’s open Tier 2 window, if it has one
start.gg and other community LoL events are other ways to compete. They are not NACL, not an ERL, and not LCS/LEC signup.
Other ways to compete
View all 4 →Other League of Legends competitions
Show full guide
League of Legends competitive route
2026 regional Tier 2 · Last verified 14 Aug 2026
There is no single global amateur ladder into LCS, LEC, LCK, or LPL. Ranked is practice. Clash and community brackets are real competition but are not automatic promotion. North America’s official path is NACL. EMEA uses local ERLs. Brazil’s Circuito Desafiante still publishes open qualifiers. Korea and China’s franchise leagues have no verified public amateur open. Follow your region’s operator.
Before you start
- A five-player roster (plus subs as that league allows).
- Play in the region whose residency rules you can meet.
- LCS and LEC are not open amateur signups.
Other ways to compete
Not part of the official Regional League of Legends path to pro ladder — parallel open / third-party competition.
Community LoL events
Other ways to compete. They do not place you into NACL or an ERL by themselves.
Stage-by-stage detail
Official paths and third-party cash competition are not the same thing. Expand a stage for instructions, eligibility and links.
01
Use ranked as practice
Ranked builds mechanics. It does not register a team for NACL or an ERL.
Ranked · informational · prerequisite
Where to play
In-game ranked
What you play
Solo/duo/flex ranked.
Accounts
- Riot account
Team
Solo possible
Steps
- Find four teammates who can commit to match nights.
02
Play Clash and community brackets
Clash is in-client. Community events (including start.gg) are licensed under Riot’s community competition guidelines. They are not automatic NACL/ERL entry.
Community · third party · alternate
Where to play
Clash in-client; community platforms
Where to register
Clash in-game; start.gg and other listed community events
What you play
Clash cups and community brackets.
Accounts
- Riot account
Team
Team required · 5–7 players · Confirm live roster rules per event.
Steps
- Use Clash for team practice.
- Treat WinQueue community listings as other competition unless Riot’s live NACL/ERL pages name that event.
Region notes
Local / online as the organizer lists.
03
North America: NACL
NACL is NA’s official path to pro. 2026: two splits from late March; one Open Qualifier in Spring for Summer spots; next qualifier at the start of 2027. Minimum age 16. LCS guest/promotion is not an open LCS signup.
NACL · official · primary
Where to play
NACL
Where to register
As Riot publishes for that Open Qualifier — none open as of 14 Aug 2026
What you play
NACL regular season / playoffs if the team holds a slot.
Accounts
- Eligible NA roster (residency as NACL rules)
Team
Team required · 5–6 players · Confirm live NACL roster/GCD rules.
Eligibility
- Players must be at least 16 in 2026. Rosters may include up to two non-residents. Official rules
Steps
- Do not treat a finished Spring 2026 Open Qualifier as a current listing.
- Watch lolesports.com / NACL channels for the 2027 qualifier signup.
Region notes
North America
04
EMEA: local ERL then EMEA Masters
Thirteen ERLs in 2026 (Winter / Spring / Summer). Entry is through that country’s league and its promotion tournament — not one EMEA-wide open. EMEA Masters is the cross-ERL stage. LEC Versus 2026 guests were invited ERL teams, not a public LEC ladder.
ERL · official · primary
Where to play
Your ERL
Where to register
Local ERL operator pages
What you play
ERL splits as that league publishes.
Team
Team required · 5–7 players · Local TO rules apply.
Steps
- Find your country’s 2026 ERL operator (for example LFL, LVP successor LastLap in Spain).
- Use that league’s promotion/relegation process, not LEC ticket pages.
Notes
ERL Summer Split listed through 17 September 2026; Masters Summer 21 September–19 October 2026.
Region notes
EMEA — your local ERL
05
Other regions: only where Riot publishes an open
Brazil’s Circuito Desafiante published 2026 Qualificatórias Abertas. LRN/LRS were designed with open quals — follow the live operator. LCP Promotion Series is guest vs APAC domestic sides, not an LCP amateur form. LCK and LPL have no verified public amateur open. Ranked does not enter these leagues.
Other regions · official · primary
Where to play
Circuito Desafiante or local domestic leagues when they publish entry; otherwise community play
Where to register
Riot’s live regional news — not LCK/LPL ticket pages
What you play
Only events that region currently lists as open.
Team
Team required · 5–7 players · Confirm live roster rules per league.
Steps
- Brazil: watch Circuito Desafiante Qualificatórias Abertas on lolesports.com/pt-BR. Etapa 1 2026 OQ is finished; later promo windows are announced per split.
- Do not treat LCK, LPL, or LCP match pages as amateur signup.
Notes
LCP P&R details for 2026 were still ‘later’ on the January primer. Do not invent a Pacific open qualifier.
Region notes
Brazil / LATAM; Pacific; Korea; China
06
LCS / LEC / international
Franchise / partnership leagues and international events. Amateur teams reach them only through published promotion or invitation.
Pro leagues · informational · primary
Where to play
LCS, LEC, and Riot international events
Team
Team required · 5–7 players
Steps
- Treat this as destination context. Do not look for an LCS/LEC open qualifier on WinQueue.
Region notes
Regional then international
Platforms & leagues explained
Not every service is somewhere you register and play.
NACLLeague
North American Challengers League — official NA path to pro.
Why it matters: It is the published amateur-to-pro layer under LCS.
When you need it: When an NA Open Qualifier window is actually open.
EMEA Regional LeaguesLeague
Local EMEA leagues that feed EMEA Masters.
Why it matters: This is EMEA’s Tier 2, not LEC open signup.
When you need it: When you have a five in an EMEA country with an ERL.
Circuito DesafianteLeague
Brazil’s 2026 Tier 2 Circuitão, with published open qualifiers.
Why it matters: It is a verified amateur entry into Americas South Tier 2.
When you need it: When a Qualificatória Aberta window is open.
Glossary
NACL
North American Challengers League. Official NA path to pro.
ERL
EMEA Regional League. Local operator; not one global bracket.
Circuito Desafiante
Brazil’s Tier 2 league. 2026 Etapa 1 used a 64-team open qualifier.
LCP
League of Legends Championship Pacific. Eight-team 2026 league; guest Promotion Series is not an amateur LCP open.
Sources
- LoL Esportsofficial
- NACL 2026 updatesofficial
- 2026 ERL seasonofficial
- Circuito Desafiante 2026 Etapa 1official
- LCP 2026 season primerofficial
- Americas Tier 2 primerofficial