[2022] Group stage mathematically cannot be drawn before play-ins without a chance of being changed.

Group Stage Draw

Following the Play-In Stage Draw, we will conduct the Group Stage Draw. The remaining 12 teams have been sorted into three Draw Pools based on past regional performance. These three pools will be sorted into four groups of four for the Group Stage of the World Championship.

^{Source: https://lolesports.com/article/tune-in-for-the-worlds-2022-draw-show!/blte31d58b71aa77fd8}

For the sake of example, let's say EU1 is in group A. EU1 must have two of either PCS1, VT1, NA2, CN2/3 or KR2/3 in this group. (Must have 2 unique regions in their group)

All of the regions that are possible to be in EU1's group are also in play-ins, so if EU2 is in B, and EU3,4 get out of playins they are forced into C,D, it would force the two teams that come out with EU3,4 to be in groups A & B, but the teams that get out can both be blocked from going into group A.

For example, let's pretend the two regions that are in EU1's group are PCS1 and CN3, then if PCS2, CN4, EU3, EU4 get out of play-ins, the groups will not be valid, since none of those teams can go into group A, and the groups will have to be shifted around/redrawn.

EDIT: Here

is an example of EVERY possible draw pre-playins for EU1's group, and the play-ins result that invalidates it if EU4 is counted as an EU seed

External link →