Paris should pay attention to these teams if they want to see the best MLBB has to offer.
MSC 2026 is upon us and from 16 of the best MLBB teams in the world battling it out in Paris, France, only one can walk away the champion. For a lot of fans, there’s only one clear favorite team who’ll be crowned the MSC 2026 champion. But the beauty of professional MLBB is that you can never count any team out.
It’s going to be a long tournament with a myriad of possibilities and possible upsets ahead of it. So we’re keeping our eyes on these five teams as they have the potential to take it all.
Team Liquid PH
Of course, it’s impossible for us to not include the current kings of the MPL PH in this list. Even though they’re playing with a fresh face in the Gold Lane, the Cavalry looks just as dominant as before.
There’s no question that Team Liquid are the clear favorites to win MSC 2026. Their near-flawless run in last season’s MPL PH is enough proof as to why they’re considered the best MLBB team in the world. But as godlike as they are, they can still bleed. It just depends on which team will be able to do it.
Aurora Gaming
While the current world champions couldn’t make it to this year’s MSC, their Turkish counterparts are here to pick up their slack. Aurora have long been the underdogs of international MLBB but that might change this year.
This is the first time that an international MLBB tournament is being held on European soil. It might not sound like much but even just being slightly closer to home could do wonders to how a team can perform. Aurora has always been close to breaching the upper echelons of international MLBB and this might be the tournament where they finally do it.
Team Vitality (aka Bigetron)
Don’t let the name-change fool you. This is the same Bigetron team that crushed ONIC Indonesia’s dominant MPL ID S17 run, snatching the trophy from right under their noses. Doing so has brought the organization back to the international stage after a five year absence.
For Vitality, this is going to be a true test of their mettle. They’ve proven that they can really shine when the pressure is on them but this is the first international tournament for most of their players. Perhaps Pinoy import and MSC 2022 champion Eman Sangco will play a key role in keeping the team focused as the tournament goes on.
Team Spirit
The Dragons of the North have a lot to prove this MSC 2026. The Russian team had steadily climbed up the ranks in previous international tournaments, stopping just shy of a podium finish multiple times in the M-Series. However, they had a disappointing exit to M7, dropping out in the lower bracket quarterfinals.
This MSC is Team Spirit’s chance to show that they’re still international contenders. They’ve been able to go toe-to-toe with SEA teams back when international tournaments were mostly held there. Now, just like with Aurora, they might have an edge with MSC being held in a more familiar environment.
Team Falcons PH
It’s rare to see a team immediately bounce back after disaster but Team Falcons PH has proven that it’s doable. After an abysmal MPL PH S16, the Falcons found their wings again and rose back to the top. They’re the team to give Team Liquid their only series loss last season and they can likely do it again this MSC 2026.
One can say that the return of coaching duo Francis “Ducky” Glindro and Vrendon “Vren” Pesebre had a big hand in the team’s recovery. In essence, Team Falcons right now resembles their old M5 World Champions lineup. Will that world-champion quality be enough to take the MSC trophy? We’ll have to wait and see.
Banner image from MPL Indonesia on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Team Liquid PH enters MSC 2026 as the clear favorite, following a near-flawless run in the previous MPL PH season that established them as the top-ranked MLBB team in the world, even after a roster change in the Gold Lane.
MSC 2026 is being held in Paris, France, marking the first time an international MLBB tournament has taken place on European soil, featuring 16 of the world’s top teams competing for the championship.
Aurora Gaming (Turkey) and Team Spirit (Russia) are considered underdogs with a potential edge, given MSC 2026’s European location puts them closer to home than past tournaments typically held in Southeast Asia.
Team Vitality, formerly known as Bigetron, qualified after ending ONIC Indonesia’s dominant MPL ID Season 17 run, marking the organization’s return to international MLBB competition after a five-year absence.
Team Falcons PH rebounded from a poor MPL PH Season 16 to hand Team Liquid their only series loss last season, a turnaround credited in part to the return of coaching duo Francis “Ducky” Glindro and Vrendon “Vren” Pesebre.
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