Pokemon GO Battle League Introduces Leaderboard Challenges for Championship Points

Niantic is launching GO Battle League Leaderboard Challenges that award Championship Points based on final global leaderboard placement during a season. Participating requires linking Pokémon GO to Pokémon Trainer Central and opting in to Play! Pokémon; points count toward qualification for the Pokémon World Championships. The first Leaderboard Challenge runs from March 3, 2026 to June 2, 2026 (with a break after June 2 until September 1, 2026), and World Championships are scheduled for August 28–30, 2026. Battles use the standard blind three-pokemon format, with in-game performance determining the final leaderboard position. The article also explains how to link accounts, opt in, and provides a Q&A on common issues like linking recovery.