Riot Games has announced that the Worlds 2021 will be moved from China to Europe. A new source has since confirmed that the event will be held in Iceland, just like the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year.
The biggest League of Legends tournament of the year has been moved to Europe. Riot Games already announced this last week in an official statement. However, the MOBA developer did not want to reveal where exactly the 2021 Worlds will be held. According to a source from Dot Esports, Riot Games has already found a location.
"Sadly, we reached the point where it is extremely difficult to guarantee that qualifying teams and their best players would be able to attend Worlds this year. As a result, we’ve made the tough decision to pivot Worlds from China... to Europe."
This is the official statement from John Needham, Global Head of Esports at Riot.
#Worlds2021 Update from John Needham. pic.twitter.com/9dCfH2nUTg
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) August 24, 2021
But where exactly will the 2021 Worlds take place? We have all the info!
Where will the 2021 Worlds be held in Europe?
Iceland's Laugardalshöll Indoor Sporting Arena is to be the venue for the Worlds 2021! So the final of the Worlds will also take place in this arena. [Update]: What was previously insider information has now been confirmed by Riot via the official LoL Esports account on Twitter: LoL Worlds 2021 will be held in Iceland.
Worlds 2021 is heading to Iceland! Tune in October 5 - November 6 at https://t.co/lh1tk7wEe0. pic.twitter.com/fTFxf42yFH
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) September 9, 2021
Iceland already hosted the Mid-Season Invitational and the 2021 World Championship will once again take place at Laugardalshöll Indoor Sporting Arena.
Riot Games has already proven that they can hold big tournaments during a pandemic. The 2020 Worlds in China ended with "zero infections" according to Riot Games' own statements. Iceland's remoteness also provides the perfect infrastructure to protect players from Covid-19.However, this raises a question for us....
Will the 2021 Worlds be held again without spectators?
The 2021 World Championship will once again be held in a Bubble, just like the 2020 World Championship and the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational. Therefore, fans won't be able to attend the event, nor the final at Laugardalshöll Indoor Sporting Arena.
Sadly we will have to make do with another spectator-less event. But Riot has managed to put on spectacular shows and tournaments nevertheless. Hence why, it's safer to have this World Championship once more in a bubble rather than force the issue with the current pandemic.
Hopefully, by the 2022 World Championship, we will be able to have fans attend the event once more.
Interested in more League of Legends content? Check out our Champion Guides or just read up on some lore from your favorite champions!