The League of Legends national team of Montenegro finished its performance in the qualifiers for Esports Nations Cup 2026, a competition that brings together national selections in the fight for placement among the best national teams in the world.
Although the dream of qualifying for the world championship and a place among the best 32 teams in the world did not come true this time, the Montenegrin national team showed combativeness, quality, team spirit and great potential of the new generation of players through the qualifications.
Montenegro opened the qualifiers in the best possible way with a win against Slovakia. In a format where each match was played as BO1, that is, to one folder, there was almost no room for error. That is exactly why the start victory had great significance, not only in terms of results, but also psychologically.
This was followed by a duel against Hungary. Montenegro had a worse draft in that match, which significantly made the game itself more difficult, but the team still showed class and the ability to deal with a serious opponent.
How strong a rival Hungary was proved later, when it defeated Croatia, a selection that includes names like Luka "Perkz" Perković and other professional players. This gives Montenegro's defeat a more realistic context. Our national team didn't lose to a random opponent, but to a team that confirmed serious quality during the qualifiers.
The defeat by Hungary sent Montenegro to lower bracket, where each subsequent match meant a fight for survival in the qualifiers.
On the second day of qualifying, 20.06.2026., Montenegro defeated the national team in the first match of the day Slovenian and thus continued her way through the lower part of the bracket. It was an important victory that showed that the team has character, that it can pick itself up after defeat and that it knows how to respond when the pressure is the greatest.
After Slovenia, followed one of the most exciting matches for Montenegro in these qualifications, a duel against North Macedonia. The match had a big turnaround and uncertainty almost during the entire game. Both teams had their moments, and Montenegro showed combativeness, stability and ability to come back even when the game is not going in the ideal flow.
Unfortunately, in the end, a small difference decided, so North Macedonia took the victory and stopped Montenegro in the lower bracket. However, the way our national team players played this match left a strong impression, they fought until the end and showed that they can play equally against serious opponents.
Montenegro's performance path
Montenegro – Slovakia
Victory of Montenegro
Montenegro - Hungary
Defeat of Montenegro
Montenegro – Slovenia
Victory of Montenegro
Montenegro – North Macedonia
Defeat of Montenegro after a very tense and uncertain match
A team that justified trust
Montenegro may not have a large player pool like most of the countries that participated in the qualifiers, but through these matches, they showed that they have players who can represent the national team worthily.
Coach's picks Milan "Lalet" Lalić they justified the trust and showed that this national team was not just a group of good solo queue players, but a team that can function through communication, discipline and a common goal.
National team captain Andrija "Nafkelah" Kovacevic was one of the pillars of this squad, but this performance is not just about one player. They also earned their place in the national team Mirza "Zarvix" Taljanović, Petar "Pegasus" Kovacevic, Vanja "Lixo" Djerkovic, Ivan "Sheka" Sekaric i Petar "Lichwik" Bogojevic players who, through dedication, results, personal rank and attitude, have shown that they can be part of the national team.
It is especially important to highlight the atmosphere within the national team, the communication between the players and the level of professionalism they showed during the qualifiers. The way they handled themselves both after victories and defeats shows that this team has character and a foundation on which to build further.
National team coach Milan "Lale" Lalic he pointed out that the goal was big, but that the context in which Montenegro was competing must be realistically looked at.
"The dream was certainly to qualify for the world championship and be among the best 32 teams in the world. However, we must not forget how much player base Montenegro has compared to the other countries that participated in the competition."
Lalić especially praised the attitude of the players towards the national team, the atmosphere within the team and the level of professionalism they showed during the qualifiers.
"The players did not embarrass themselves. They played at a professional level and I have great praise for the atmosphere in the team, the communication between the players and the way they handled themselves both after wins and after losses. That's what shows that there is a foundation for the future here."
The future of the Montenegrin LoL scene
Montenegro failed to qualify for the finals of the Esports Nations Cup, but came out of these qualifications with an important message: the local League of Legends scene has a future.
Although many may have expected little from a small esports scene, the Montenegrin national team members showed that they can fight, win and be competitive against serious opponents. These qualifications showed the potential of the new generation of Montenegrin LoL representatives and that the future of the local League of Legends scene is in good hands.
There is still regret for the missed chance, especially after the close and tense match against North Macedonia, but there is also a sense of pride. The Montenegrin national team has shown that it has quality, character and team energy.
Now the most important task remains to continue working actively on the development of esports in Montenegro, creating better conditions for players, more competitions and a clearer system through which new generations will have the opportunity to grow.
