In 2026, streamer Forsen and former League of Legends pro Pobelter will play in the North American League Championship (NLC). Both were announced as part of the NLC lineup before the start of the new season. The news got a lot of attention because neither person got into the league through normal competitive means.
Forsen is a well-known Twitch streamer who makes videos about League of Legends. He previously played the game at a high level and reached Platinum rank. His participation in the NLC marks a return to competitive play after years of focusing on streaming. Forsen will play for a team that is in the NLC, but the name of the team and other details were not immediately available.
Pobelter has been a pro at League of Legends for a long time. He has played for several teams in the League Championship Series (LCS) and has also been a coach. His involvement in the NLC is a sign that he is still working in the League of Legends competitive ecosystem. Pobelter may be able to play and teach at the same time because he has so much experience.
In North America, the NLC is a second-tier competitive league below the LCS. It has teams that help players improve their skills and give them a way to move up to higher levels of competition. Adding non-traditional players like Forsen and Pobelter shows how the league is changing in terms of its structure and outreach.
Other teams and players are also getting ready for the NLC season that is coming up. As teams finish putting together their lineups after the offseason, rosters have been changing. New players have also been brought in from amateur and semi-professional leagues.
Along with the news about the roster, the schedule and format for the 2026 NLC season were also made public. The league will have a regular season that leads up to the playoffs. Depending on how things work in each region and how the games will be broadcast, matches will take place both online and in studios.
The people in charge have talked about prize pools and qualification points that lead to bigger chances to compete, like the chance to move up to the LCS. Teams will fight for good standings all season long so they can get good spots in the playoffs.
Plans for broadcasting include regular live streams on all major platforms. Finalizing the commentary teams and production staff to help with viewership. The league aims to deliver consistent coverage for fans of League of Legends esports.
The fact that Forsen and Pobelter are taking part makes the NLC much more visible before it starts in 2026. In the weeks leading up to the first games, full team rosters and match schedules are likely to be made public.
