Western teams enter MSI 2026 as clear underdogs, with G2 and Karmine Corp representing the LEC after G2’s Spring Finals victory and LCS sides LYON plus Team Liquid filling the remaining Western slots. Dominant LCK squads like T1 and HLE alongside LPL entrants BLG and TES have posted superior recent international results and deeper talent pools, creating the near-even trader split on whether any LEC or LCS roster reaches the July 12 grand final. Play-in seeding, bracket positioning after the June 28–July 1 stage, and head-to-head form against Eastern competition remain the decisive variables that could shift implied probabilities in either direction before the bracket stage begins.