2021 Worlds will take place in Iceland, as per Dot Esports’ Pablo Suárez. In short, this comes as a bit of a surprise, but it does make a lot of sense given Riot’s flawless execution of this year’s Mid-Season Invitational.

We’re still amazed that Riot is currently in the process of relocating Worlds from China to Europe — it is a feat that requires an astounding amount of planning and problem-solving. And, better yet, they’re making it happen not only amidst a global pandemic but also within an extremely short time frame; Worlds is just around the corner. If it were any other company, we’d have our doubts, but Riot? They’ve pulled off the seemingly impossible on so many occasions in the past, so we’re not going to start doubting them now. 

Worlds 2020 had ended without anyone testing positive for COVID-19, so obviously, the folks in charge know what they’re doing — and are exceptional at their jobs, too. Nothing else has been made official at this point, but we’re bound to get additional information over the coming days and weeks. 

Riot will surely employ a “bubble” system, much as it did for last year’s Worlds, along with numerous strict protocols to ensure everything transpires without a hitch. As always, we’ll bring you any update from the moment it hits the web, so stay tuned! 

Had someone told Icelandic LoL fans at the start of 2021 that their country would host both the Mid-Season Invitational and Worlds, they probably would’ve laughed them out of the room. Still, these are unprecedented times, and the fact that Riot has managed to find a way around an immense set of challenges and obstacles is worthy of the highest praise and commendation.

Plus, Iceland — the most sparsely populated country in Europe — is a superb, epic setting, and is more than worthy of hosting a tournament as important and historic as 2021 Worlds.