VCT 2027 Americas Kickoff North America Qualifiers: Everything you need to know

The road to VCT Americas Kickoff 2027 is about to begin, with teams preparing for a new competitive era and major changes to the circuit. Starting in November 2026, teams will compete for a place in the 2027 VCT season, beginning with Kickoff and progressing through the regional Cups and the biggest international events of the year.

North America Qualifiers

The North America Qualifiers will be held in collaboration with Red Bull, also serving as the qualifiers for Red Bull Home Ground. This gives teams even more at stake, as they compete for a place in both the 2027 VCT Americas Kickoff and the Red Bull Home Ground World Final 2026.

Location and Teams

The 2027 Americas Kickoff will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, featuring eight partner teams directly invited to the tournament.

The remaining four spots will be open to non-partner teams, with one guaranteed slot for each subregion (North America, Brazil, and Latin America), and the final spot awarded through the Americas Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).

• 8 partner teams
• 4 non-partner teams (one per region + winner of the Americas LCQ)

Riot Games will officially reveal the partner teams for all major regions on October 21.

Format

The competition will feature open Qualifiers, a 16-team Swiss Stage, and an eight-team double-elimination Playoffs, followed by the Americas Last Chance Qualifier.

This format gives teams multiple opportunities to prove themselves and secure a place at the next stage of VALORANT esports.

The North America Qualifiers will take place across three stages: Qualifiers, Qualifiers Playoffs, and Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).

Qualifiers

The road to the Main Tournament begins with two Qualifiers in November, giving teams across North America a chance to compete for a place in the next stage.

• Qualifier #1: November 5–8
• Qualifier #2: November 12–15

Both Qualifiers will follow a single-elimination format, with all matches played as best-of-three (Bo3). At least four teams from each Qualifier will advance to the next stage of the competition.

Teams can already start their registrations here. Teams must also meet all registration deadlines to secure their place in the competition. Missing a deadline means they will have to wait for a later opportunity to compete.

Before registering, teams must ensure that all players meet the eligibility requirements. Players must be at least 17 years old and have reached Ascendant rank or higher within the previous six months.

Teams should also consider that advancing players may need to travel internationally, making valid travel documents and the necessary visas essential for competing in later stages.

Qualifiers Playoffs

The Qualifiers Playoffs will feature 16 teams competing across two phases. The lineup will include teams that advance through the Qualifiers, alongside invited teams selected from 2026 VCT Americas rosters that do not retain Partner status, top Challengers teams, and Game Changers teams.

The competition will begin with a three-day Swiss Stage, where teams must secure two wins to advance. The eight teams that progress will then compete in a double-elimination bracket spanning six days.

Event Dates:

• Swiss Stage: November 20–22
• Double-Elimination Bracket: December 1–6

The tournament champion will earn a spot as North America's representative at the 2027 VCT Americas Kickoff, while also qualifying for the Red Bull Home Ground World Final at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California.

The runner-up will also secure a place at Red Bull Home Ground, alongside one final opportunity to qualify for VCT Americas Kickoff through the Americas Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), keeping their hopes of competing in the 2027 VCT season alive.

Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)

The Americas Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) will take place on December 17–18 in São Paulo, Brazil, offering teams one final opportunity to secure a spot at the 2027 VCT Americas Kickoff. The tournament will feature the second-place teams from North America, Brazil, and LATAM, all competing for the final available slot.

Every match matters, and by the end of the LCQ, North America's representatives for VCT Americas Kickoff 2027 will be set.

North America Qualifiers Schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the North America Kickoff Qualifiers. Mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting start to the 2027 VALORANT esports season!

Where to Watch

Fans can follow the North America Kickoff Qualifiers through the official VALORANT Esports broadcast channels. However, the live broadcasts will only begin with the Playoffs stage, so the earlier matches will not be streamed on the official channels.

• Twitch
• YouTube

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 by Riot Games