Los Ratones founder Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont has announced that the team will not be competing in the second tier of League of Legends esports in 2026.
During a recent stream, Caedrel revealed that he is unsure what the future holds for the team after it participates in the inaugural LEC Versus season.
When asked about the future of Los Ratones during the November 23rd stream, Caedrel revealed that the team won’t appear in any European Regional League (ERL) during the 2026 season.
The news follows another broadcast where the former player confirmed that Los Ratones isn’t competing in the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), after winning the Winter and Spring Splits in March and June.
“I’m not sure what’s happening after LEC,” revealed Caedrel on his stream.
“There are some things that could happen, there are some things that might not happen. We’re not going to LFL, we won’t be playing in tier two. Playing in the LEC is gonna rock. After that, there aren’t many other things to do. We’ll see.”
Launched in 2024, Los Ratones has become one of the most popular League of Legends teams competing in Europe.
In addition to two NLC titles, the team also secured victory in the Winter and Spring editions of EMEA Masters, cementing its place as one of the region’s strongest rosters outside of the LEC.
Los Ratones In LEC Versus 2026
Thanks to its performances in the ERL, Los Ratones has earned an opportunity to compete against Europe’s top teams in LEC Versus, the first split of the LEC’s 2026 season.
12 teams will compete in round-robin matches, with the top eight advancing to the playoffs.
The eventual winner will be crowned the first LEC Versus champion, alongside securing qualification for First Stand, the first international tournament of the year.
The presence of Los Ratones in LEC versus is bound to generate plenty of interest in the new LEC season.
While the future of the team remains uncertain, a strong performance has the potential to increase its longevity further than the end of the season.
This was always the plan according to multiple sources.
Caedrel has repeatedly stated the project was designed as a one-year run, not a permanent organization.
Players joined under that understanding.
The team even hesitated to compete in their third EU Masters tournament before Riot convinced them to participate due to their massive impact on viewership.
Los Ratones dominated the tier-2 scene during their brief existence.
They won multiple EU Masters titles while playing in the Northern League of Legends Championship.
Their matches regularly drew larger audiences than other ERLs combined, bringing unprecedented attention to the developmental ecosystem.
Caedrel mentioned that the reason Los Ratones would not stay in the LEC permanently is the money.
A franchised LEC slot costs roughly 20 million euros, and requires an existing team willing to sell.
Los Ratones doesn’t have that kind of capital, and Caedrel has been clear he won’t accept sponsorship deals that compromise his control over the project.
Riot can’t simply grant them a free permanent spot without violating existing franchise agreements.
The LEC Versus format offers a compromise, giving tier-2 champions a brief taste of the top league without disrupting the franchise structure.
Caedrel has also mentioned that streamer teams don’t work well in traditional league formats.
The long seasons make content repetitive and drain the novelty that made Los Ratones special.
A tournament circuit would suit them better, but that’s not how League’s competitive structure operates.
The team was officially announced on November 15, 2024.
Caedrel assembled a roster featuring seasoned veterans such as Martin “Rekkles” Larsson and other prominent players.
Their immediate success in the ERL system exceeded expectations.
The announcement has generated mixed reactions from the League of Legends community.
Many fans are disappointed that the popular team won’t continue competing, while others understand the practical challenges.
Some criticism has been directed at Riot’s handling of the situation, particularly regarding how existing franchise teams were informed about Los Ratones’ participation in LEC Versus.
The Winter 2026 split will likely be Los Ratones’ final competitive appearance unless unexpected developments occur.
Caedrel remains focused on making the most of this opportunity to compete against Europe’s best teams.
For now, fans can enjoy watching Los Ratones compete at the highest level for one split before the team’s future becomes clearer.
