Worlds 2026: visa issues and the impact on the tournament

In October 2026, the world’s biggest esports tournament will take place in the United States. Worlds 2026, the League of Legends World Championship, will fill arenas across America with players from Korea, China, Europe, Brazil, and other regions. All of this is happening amid an aggressive climate for immigration enforcement. Nearly seven million people watched the Worlds 2025 final, highlighting the global impact of the event.

The situation around immigration enforcement

With less than six months to go before opening day, the US Congress has created a potential bottleneck for entry. The House of Representatives recently voted to approve nearly $70 billion in new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These funds are intended to support the two agencies through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. That is a worrying prospect, especially for the teams, players, and organizations preparing for Worlds 2026.

Riot Games has already decided to proceed cautiously. Chris Greeley, the Global Head of League of Legends Esports, voiced concerns in March 2026 about possible visa issues. When asked whether all qualified players would be able to attend the tournament, Greeley replied: “We hope all qualified players will have smooth entry into the US.” He stressed that he could not remember a recent international event without visa or immigration concerns right before it began.

Possible consequences for players and teams

Past experience shows that players seeking P-1A athlete visas — widely used by professional competitors — often face inconsistent decisions and last-minute denials. This has led to uncertain situations that can put event participation at risk. For example, Mohamed Amine