Who’s Qualified for VALORANT Champions 2026? Team List and Rosters

Which teams have qualified for VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026? Here’s a quick list and explainer, including rosters and some context.

VALORANT Champions 2026 is Almost Here: Team List

As the weather gets chillier and gamers get more locked in, VALORANT Champions 2026 is fast approaching. The VCT scene is vastly different this year from the last, and some interesting things are happening in the circuit. For the first time in years, Fnatic has not qualified to Champions. In addition, there are more VCL slots in regional playoffs than ever, and VCL teams are crushing the EMEA circuit.

To fully follow the tournament, it’s important to understand its teams and players. Today, we’ll recap a full list of the teams that have qualified to VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026, including some important context behind them and their rosters. We’ll keep this list updated as more orgs qualify. Let’s dive in.

When is VALORANT Champions 2026?

VALORANT Champions 2026 will stretch from September 24, 2026 to October 18, 2026.

EDward Gaming

Two years after its Champions 2024 win (which made it the first China region VALORANT team to seize the title) EDG is back at it again with another qualification. The org’s total points landed it a Champions Shanghai 2026 slot, and it’s had strong seasonal performances throughout 2026. EDward Gaming scored first place in China Stage 1, also placing third in Masters London. The team’s 2025 performance was lackluster, but this year, it’s proving it still has what it takes to compete on an international stage.

Roster:

• CHICHOO
• nobody
• zmjjKK
• Smoggy
• Jieni7
• stew

JD Gaming

JDG has just qualified to Champions as of August 21. The org had a tough start this year, with an extremely poor Group Stage performance and an infamous 13-0 loss to FunPlus Phoenix in the Play-Ins. They also lost star player Stew in June, who has since reportedly migrated to rival team EDG. However, it has turned that struggle into motivation and surged through China Stage 2 to a guaranteed Champions 2026 qualification through Finalist placement. It’s the team’s first-ever international event: can they keep the momentum rolling?

Roster

• jkuro
• Yuicaw
• zhe
• BerLIN
• crownfisher

XLG Esports

XLG Esports has secured a guaranteed Champions Shanghai qualification through regional China Points. Notably, the org is relatively new, only joining the VALORANT scene and esports overall in 2023. It’s since stood its ground as an up-and-comer, already qualifying to three Masters events (Toronto, Santiago, and London). XLG was also a familiar face at Champions 2025, where it qualified but placed 9th-12th.

Roster

• Rarga
• happywei
• NoMan
• Lysoar
• WsLeo

Paper Rex

Paper Rex has been itching for a Champions win for a while, and it looks like they may get another attempt to accomplish it in 2026. The team earned a Champions Shanghai slot through its Pacific Points standing.

Since 2023, PRX has remained one of VALORANT’s overall strongest teams. They are known for breaking the mold with unique team comps and strategies, providing some much-needed creativity in the VCT circuit. However, PRX is also known for choking when it matters most: though the org has proven its international worthiness with a Masters Toronto trophy, they consistently storm through tournaments only to come second. Champions 2023 was the most memorable instance of this, as Evil Geniuses defeated PRX after a strong run. Could Champs 2026 be the org’s chance to redeem itself?

Roster

• d4v41
• f0rsakeN
• something
• Jinggg
• invy

TYLOO

TYLOO has qualified to Champs through China Points. The team impressed with a 4-1 Stage 2 Group Stage showing, placing near the top in its Group Alpha seed. It also notably 3-0 swept BLG in the Lower Bracket Final, guaranteeing the org a spot in the regional Grand Final against fellow Champs entry JD Gaming.

Roster

• slowly
• Scales
• Splash
• Erv
• SiuFatBB

FUT Esports

Turkish team FUT Esports is a familiar face in the EMEA region: the roster previously appeared at Masters London 2026, putting up a good fight against Team Vitality and placing a respectable 5th/6th. Its VCT EMEA performance has also been stronger this year, with a 3rd-place Stage 1 showing. FUT’s arrival to Champs is guaranteed thanks to EMEA Points. The lineup has already reached VALORANT’s highest tournament twice in 2023 and 2024: is the third time the charm?

Roster

• yetujey
• xeus
• KROSTALY
• s0pp
• soaciablEE

Team Vitality

EMEA org Team Vitality secured a spot at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 on August 23, 2026, after Fire Flux Esports 2-0’d BBL Esports. The team is already well-known in Counter-Strike (and has been on a tear in the past few years), but it’s now also attracting attention in the VALORANT sphere. Notably, the team includes Derke and Chronicle. Both are recent transfers from Fnatic, which failed to qualify for Champs this year for the first time in VCT history, so maybe Fnatic fans can rally behind the bees instead.

Roster

• Derke
• Sayonara
• Chronicle
• Jamppi
• PROFEK

Nongshim RedForce

NS RedForce has secured a Champions 2026 slot through VCT Pacific points. The team is on a rapid rise. In 2024, it promoted from VALORANT Challengers after placing in Ascension. Just a year later in 2025, the team won Masters Santiago, unexpectedly sweeping Paper Rex 3:0. NS RedForce will now face off with long-standing partnered orgs at the highest level, and the world will see if its roster has what it takes to continue the climb.

Roster

• Xross
• Dambi
• Francis
• Ivy
• Rb

Karmine Corp

French team Karmine Corp has just qualified for Champs through VCT EMEA Stage 2 standings. This will be the org’s first-ever VALORANT Champions event after four seasons of VCT-level play. KC has been making moves this year, notably acquiring N4RRATE from Sentinels, and they swept the EWC’s EMEA qualifiers. While they’re a regional powerhouse, fans are waiting to see if they can hold up on the international stage.

Roster:

• avez
• SUYGETSU
• dos9
• LewN
• N4RRATE

Team Liquid

CHAMPS SHANGHAI, WE’RE COMING🐴 pic.twitter.com/308kyrz3N2

— Team Liquid VALORANT (@LiquidValorant) August 28, 2026

Team Liquid qualified on August 28, 2026, after defeating Fire Flux Esports. The group secured its spot through EMEA points. Liquid placed 9-12th in last year’s Champions, falling 2-0 to DRX. In 2026, they have already participated in Masters Santiago. This will be the team’s fifth Champions event.

Roster

• nAts
• kamo
• purp0
• Kicks
• trexx

NRG

North American team NRG popped off by winning Champions 2025. Now, they’re back for blood in Champions Shanghai thanks to VCT Americas Points. The team has a star-studded lineup: IGL Ethan has already gained Champs experience with Evil Geniuses, notably winning on Potter’s 2023 roster alongside Demon1, C0M, and jawgemo. In addition, skuba is one of the strongest Controller and Sentinel players around. Can NRG run it back another year, or will they fall short?

Roster

• Ethan
• mada
• brawk
• skuba
• keiko

T1

T1 already dominates the League of Legends scene. However, it’s now also making a name for itself in VALORANT, and VCT Pacific orgs are taking note. Former Sentinels player TenZ famously transfered to the team as a content creator, increasing its online presence. T1’s 2025 showing was also dominant: the org won Masters Bangkok.

Roster

• iZu
• stax
• Meteor
• BuZz
• Munchkin
• DH

Global Esports

Global Esports qualified to Champions Shanghai on September 4, through VCT Pacific points. Though the team has represented its region in VCT for several seasons, 2026 is the year it’s really stepping into its own. For the first time in three years, the roster qualified for a VCT international event (Masters London). GE’s upcoming appearance will be its Champs debut. The team has motivation to prove itself on the big stage: PatMen will face former org Paper Rex in the arena, and GE’s coaching staff made headlines earlier after making the controversial decision to release former head coach Frost.

Roster

• Kr1stal
• UdoTan
• autumn
• xavi8k
• PatMen

G2 Esports

G2 is a widespread analyst favorite in recent years. The NA org dominated 2025, pulling off a VCT Americas three-peat and qualifying for every international event. Its 2026 season was slightly less successful, but still strong, with a 1st-place Stage 1 trophy and two additional VCT Masters appearances. Now, the team has qualified for Champions Shanghai through Americas points. Can it secure a Champs trophy to cap off its fearsome reputation?

Roster:

• trent
• valyn
• jawgemo
• leaf
• babybay

We’ll update this list as more qualifications roll in, so stay tuned for more VALORANT esports news!