All VALORANT teams qualified for Champions Shanghai 2026

The sixth iteration of the VALORANT Champions world championship is heading to Shanghai, China, and will run September 24 to October 18, 2026. Marking the first time China will host the crown jewel of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), the tournament features a massive $2.25 million USD prize pool with a whopping $1 million allocated to the winning team.

A total of 16 elite teams—four from each of the international leagues: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China—will battle for glory. However, the regional qualification landscape is vastly different across the globe. While VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - China Stage 2 has officially concluded and locked in all its representatives, the other three regional leagues—VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2, VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2, and VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 2—are still ongoing, leaving several empty slots as their final stages play out.

Below is the definitive list of all teams qualified to VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 and a breakdown of the remaining open slots.

VCT China

VCT China is the first international league to finalize its entire delegation of four teams for Champions.

Four Chinese teams have locked in their VALORANT Champions Shanghai spots.

• TYLOO claimed the top seed after a historic mid-season turnaround led by IGL Pong "SiuFatBB" Ka Hei, defeating JD Gaming 3-1 in the Stage 2 Grand Final.
• Despite a rough start, runner-up JD Gaming also secured their first international appearance.
• Former world champions EDward Gaming qualified early via Championship Points following their Stage 1 title and third-place finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters London 2026.
• Joining them are XLG Esports, who earned their second consecutive Champions slot through Championship Points after placing top-six in London.

VCT Pacific

With the VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs running from August 27 to September 6, three of the region’s four spots remain empty as teams battle for the final regional slots. However, the region's first seed was claimed months ago.

• Singaporean powerhouse Paper Rex became the first team globally to secure a Champions spot. Their runner-up finishes at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026 as well as London, along with their VCT Pacific 2026 Stage 1 title, locked in their qualification via Championship Points before Stage 2 even started.
• The remaining three Pacific slots are still undecided and will be finalized during the VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs from August 27 to September 6. Two spots go to the Stage 2 finalists, with the last awarded to the next-highest Championship Points earner.

VCT EMEA

The EMEA circuit has delivered massive surprises, most notably the shocking exit of Fnatic, who will miss Champions for the first time in history.

VCT EMEA Stage 2 concludes on August 30, meaning its two Stage 2 finalist slots are currently empty. However, the region's two Championship Points representatives are already locked.

• Turkish powerhouse FUT booked their third consecutive Champions appearance thanks to strong finishes in Stage 1 and Masters London.
• Team Vitality locked their spot following BBL Esports' elimination, bringing massive international experience with former Fnatic stars Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev and Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov.

VCT Americas

The Americas league remains completely undecided, leaving all four slots open as VCT Americas Stage 2 continues toward its September 6 conclusion. The top two finishers from the Stage 2 playoffs will qualify directly, joined by the top two eligible point-earners from the regional Championship Points standings.

With a massive $2.25 million USD prize pool on the line and the final chapter of VCT's franchise era drawing to a close, the qualified teams are primed to make history. While China’s representatives are already locked in and preparing for home-turf glory, the final crucial spots for EMEA, Pacific, and the Americas will soon be decided, paving the way for the ultimate clash of VALORANT's elite.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Zhou Xian/Riot Games