it is unfair, but unfortunately there aren't many (if any) MENA teams that are big enough (financially or otherwise) that would probably make this first round. I can't name any off the top of my head and most other people probably can't either :/

i do hope the region could get a team together that could compete for a spot when franchising expands, some MENA rep would be good to see

Finally a W post. As someone from NA the amount of fellow NA-ers crying over not having enough team slots is embarrassing. 5 makes enough sense on its own (it's half the entire Americas league, after all), and Riot is supposedly going to expand the leagues each year meaning more chance of NA teams getting in anyway. LATAM getting two slots is sensible (KRU and LEV, or FUSION instead of LEV if they want a LATAM-North rep) and Brazil getting 3 (LOUD + FURIA + someone else, not sure) also makes sense.

??? what?

Just because certain big teams aren't making it into franchising doesn't mean the new teams won't be good. After all, the teams that made it in will probably try to buy out the good players from the teams that didn't make it in if they become free agents.

Say if FPX doesn't make it (just an example, I've no clue if FPX is in or not yet), it's very possible that Karmine or KOI buy them out considering they are still a good team after their runs at Champs and Masters.