TL;DR
- LoL MSI and Worlds are each important world LoL tournaments.
- The Worlds are extra prestigious, being the place the World Champions are topped.
- The winner of LoL MSI qualifies for the Worlds.
- A complete of 10 groups participate in MSI, and 17 groups participate within the Worlds.
- MSI’s prize pool for 2025 is $2m, and the Worlds’ is $5m.
- The codecs for every match differ however share sure similarities.
The primary world spotlight of the LoL esports calendar is First Stand in March, with the second and third key tournaments being LoL MSI and the Worlds, respectively. However should you’re undecided of the importance or variations between LoL MSI vs Worlds, learn on. Right here we’ll take a look at every and undergo that key info, such because the MSI format, the LoL Worlds format, and an outline of the variations from significance to prize pool, and workforce qualification.
We’ll simply say right here that each occasions are massively important within the LoL esports calendar and never just for the groups concerned. For these following their favourite regional groups and as total followers of LoL esports, each MSI and Worlds are wonderful alternatives to see the very best League of Legends gamers on the planet.
Because the venue and worldwide location of every of those key occasions change annually, each LoL MSI and Worlds have turn into an actual celebration of the help and adoption of the sport, the most-followed MOBA on the planet.
What’s the distinction between MSI and Worlds?

LoL MSI vs Worlds: Significance
There are many variations between the Mid-Season International (MSI) and the Worlds, and the significance of every competitors is one main issue. That includes because the third and ultimate key match of the League of Legends aggressive schedule, Worlds is the final word worldwide LoL occasion. Solely the best MSI performances find yourself being ok to finish up at Worlds, in any case.
This isn’t to say LoL MSI isn’t, however (as its title suggests) it’s thought of extra of a mid-season showcase of high groups from the 5 completely different areas. It’s virtually an early take a look at the very best groups, whereas the World Championship is the season-ending match that decides the LoL World Champions. The 2 are related, although, because the winners of LoL MSI safe qualification for the Worlds, whereas the second-placed area can be given an additional fourth seed for its regional home league at Worlds.
LoL MSI vs Worlds: Groups
Crew choice or qualification is without doubt one of the key variations when evaluating MSI vs Worlds. League of Legends groups compete in home and world competitions all year long, with choice for the latter decided because the worldwide season progresses.
For the Mid-Season Worldwide, the highest two groups from every LoL area (5 areas, so ten groups in whole) qualify, with a break up for ‘Play-In’ and ‘Bracket’ phases that we’ll cowl beneath within the ‘Format’ part.
For the Worlds, except for these qualifying through MSI as we lined above, seventeen groups can qualify. This makes it an even bigger spectacle by way of competitors and variety of matches. These seventeen groups are: the highest three groups from every of the 5 regional leagues (fifteen groups whole), plus the fourth seed (fourth-best workforce) of the MSI champion’s area and the runner-up’s area (two further groups whole).
LoL MSI vs Worlds: Prize pool
Because the Mid-Season Worldwide is a special match from the season-ending Worlds, as mentioned, the prize pool duly displays that. In 2025, the prize pool for the LoL MSI occasion is $2,000,000. That’s decrease than the Worlds’, however nonetheless an enormous improve from 2024’s $250,000. Moreover, the variety of MSI groups is down from 12 to 10.
Compared, the MSI Worlds prize pool is $5,000,000. It’s greater than double that of the LoL MSI, however the large determine can be larger than the Worlds 2024 prize pool. In that yr, the prize pool for the match was set at $2.225m, making the 2025 determine greater than double. Given the prize cash on supply, it may be staggering to be taught how much League of Legends esports players make.
How are the MSI format and LoL Worlds format completely different?

The MSI format and LoL Worlds format are very completely different, owing to the variety of groups and significance, and aggressive nature of every match. We’ll hold this a little bit temporary, as we’ve lined the LoL MSI format intimately. So should you’re questioning, ‘how does MSI work in LoL’, head over there too.
For LoL MSI, the format is:
- The highest 2 groups from every area (10 whole) take part.
- 1st seed from every area, plus 2nd seed of LCK ([Korea region] the profitable area of First Stand), have a bye to the Bracket Stage – a complete of 6 groups.
- The opposite 4 groups will begin from the Play-In.
- For the Play-in, the highest 2 groups (the 2-0 and 2-1 groups) qualify for the Bracket Stage.
- For the BRacket stage, 8 groups play a double-elimination bracket.
- The winner of MSI qualifies for Worlds, and the 2nd place area will get a 4th seed for its home league at Worlds.
For the LoL Worlds format overview is:
- The MSI champion and the highest three groups (moreover the MSI champion) from every area (15 in whole) take part within the Swiss Stage.
- The 4th seed of the MSI champion area and the MSI runner-up area will begin from the Play-In, partaking in a single-elimination match, with the winner becoming a member of 15 groups within the Swiss Stage.
- Sixteen certified groups play in a five-round Swiss format, and the groups that attain three wins will advance, whereas people who attain three losses are then eradicated.
- Eight advancing groups play in a single-elimination bracket till a winner emerges.
Conclusion
So there you may have it: an outline of the important thing variations between MSI vs Worlds in League of Legends. Every match is a high-quality showcase of a tremendous sport and aggressive scene, however there’s just one World Championship occasion. That type of makes any LoL worlds vs MSI comparability unfair from the off. However given every is a key match, it’s good to know the variations, and we hope we’ve helped on that entrance. We’ve additionally made predictions as to which teams will make it to the MSI, too.
FAQs
Each are necessary, however LoL MSI is extra of a mid-season ‘showcase’ occasion, whereas the Worlds is the World Championships.
MSI isn’t fairly as massive because the Worlds. It’s a key match, however fewer groups participate, and the prize pool is smaller.
The winner of MSI qualifies for Worlds, as do an added (fourth) seed from the champion and runner-up areas.
The highest two groups from every of the 5 LoL areas are invited to MSI.
Sure, the identical groups can compete. As Worlds contains the winner of MSI, there may be at the very least one workforce that would be the identical. In any other case, groups qualify for LoL MSI and Worlds primarily based on their regional place, to allow them to qualify for each if they’ve sturdy regional seasons.
MSI 2025 is being hosted in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Sure, SK Telecom T1 received each MSI and Worlds in 2016.
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