North America has never won Worlds, despite being one of the game's major competitive regions. Since the tournament’s inception in 2011, NA teams have showcased moments of brilliance and a few deep runs, but the Summoner’s Cup has continued to elude them.

NA's best performance at Worlds

The best performance by an NA team came in 2018 when Cloud9 reached the semifinals, finishing in the 3rd-4th place range after getting 3-0'd by Fnatic. This was a remarkable achievement for the region and represented its deepest run ever at Worlds. Had they won, they would have become the first team from the West to reach the Worlds Finals since Fnatic themselves in 2011. During this tournament, Cloud9 surprised many by defeating high-tier teams, including LCK's second and third seeds: Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk's Gen.G, the reigning world champion who inherited the slot and roster of Samsung Galaxy, and the Afreeca Freecs led by Kim "Kiin" Gi-in.

Before 2018, other strong finishes included Cloud9’s 5th place in 2016 and Team SoloMid’s 5th place in 2014 as the region's first seed. Season 1 in 2011 was notable because three NA teams—TSM, Epik Gamer, and Counter Logic Gaming—finished in the top five. However, that early Worlds event took place before Asian powerhouses like Korea and China fully dominated the scene.

The story behind NA's challenges

The story of NA’s Worlds history is one of close calls and tough competition. Despite some successes, the region has often been punctuated by difficult bracket draws, roster shifts, and the dominance of Korean and Chinese teams. Notably, Cloud9’s 2018 journey from underdog to semifinalist was a Cinderella story that briefly broke the narrative of Asian dominance.

Still, setbacks have been frequent. For example, some years have witnessed NA teams finishing without a single victory in the group stage, such as in 2015 when the region failed to make it to the bracket stage for the first time. This rollercoaster of highs and lows has led to frustration but also determination within the NA ecosystem.

Could NA win Worlds?

Many of NA’s teams have become synonymous with the region’s international identity. Cloud9, for example, has been a consistent presence on the world stage with players such as Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen and Zachary "Sneaky" Scuderi becoming fan favorites. Team SoloMid, with its long-time stars Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng and Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg, had repeated appearances but never progressed past quarterfinals. Teams like Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves have more recently represented NA but often struggled to advance deep in the tournament.

Looking toward the future, the prospects for NA to finally claim a Worlds title continue to improve with stronger talent development and more competitive teams. Players like Fahad "Massu" Abdulmalek and international imports bringing fresh skill sets have raised expectations. Although the eastern regions remain the favorites, NA’s growth suggests that the Summoner's Cup could still be within reach. For several years now, NA has even been considered a better region than EU as they have been sending teams in the bracket stage, while EU failed in the Swiss stage in 2023 and 2024.