First Stand 2026 Preview: The Unexpected Threat of the LCP and CBLOL Teams

Brazil will take part in the First Stand for the first time after missing the 2025 edition, as the LTA South slot was shared with the North conference. The representative will therefore be LOUD, who won the CBLOL Cup 2026. On the LCP side, Team Secret Whales will represent the region but are unlikely to replicate the success achieved by CTBC Flying Oyster last year.

LOUD: Champions Despite the Changes

LOUD had a turbulent start to the year during the regular season, finishing fourth, the last slot that granted direct qualification to the CBLOL Cup playoffs. After starting the season with mid laner Jean Carlo “Mago” Dias, the team announced his departure in the middle of playoffs following internal conflicts with the technical staff.

He was replaced in the Upper Bracket Final by veteran Bruno “Envy” Farias. LOUD did not lose a single series in the playoffs, securing wins against Vivo Keyd Stars, LOS, and twice against RED Canids, despite the roster changes. Rookie toplaner Carlos Felipe “xyno” Ferreira was one of the standout players of the tournament, claiming three MVP awards during the playoffs, while his AD carry Song “Bull” Seon-gyu earned the MVP of the final.

While LOUD dominated domestically, the international stage could be far more challenging. Xyno is in his first Tier 1 season and will play his first international event, going up against Niship “Dhokla” Doshi from LYON in the opening match. A loss would send him to the lower bracket against either JDG or Gen.G, making the road even tougher.

Jungler Ko “YoungJae” Yeong-jae has slightly more Tier 1 experience but will also debut internationally. In mid, Envy and support Ygor “RedBert” Freitas are the most experienced players, both having attended several Worlds and Mid-Season Invitationals without major results.

ADC Bull is in his first year abroad after years in the LCK CL, but he has already shown promising flashes. He will face his compatriot Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol, who is also looking for international success after a disappointing 2025 season. While it remains to be seen what LOUD can achieve, especially with the First Stand being played on home soil, the recent win by FURIA during the Americas Cup could be a good confidence boost for the CBLOL team.

Team Secret Whales: follow in the footsteps of CFO

Last year, the LCP made a strong statement with CFO’s run to the semifinals, where they defeated big names such as Top Esports. This year, TSW dominated the Pacific. After finishing first in the regular season, they secured a 3–1 win over SoftBank HAWKS and a 3–2 victory against Deep Cross Gaming in the Upper Bracket Final, before clean sweeping them in the grand final.

The team looks less promising than last year’s LCP representative, with the league weaker after PSG TALON’s departure and CFO’s roster changes. TSW currently has two toplaners, but only Nguyễn “Pun” Đăng Khoa is playing so far, while rookies Lê “Hizto” Văn Hoàng Hải and Trần  “Dire” Duy Đức continue developing.

The bot lane is more experienced, with ADC Hoàng “Eddie” Công Nghĩa and veteran support Trần “Bie” Đức Hiếu balancing the mid–jungle duo. TSW will first face G2, before going up against a team between Bilibili Gaming and BNK FEARX.