Teams that Could Join VCT Partner Leagues Soon, According to Valorant Esports Boss

Leo Faria, the global head of Valorant esports, recently announced on social media the teams that Riot Games will prioritize for inclusion in VCT parented leagues once the contracts of the current lineup expire.

In 2022, Riot Games revealed the initial roster for its three partnered VCT leagues, inviting 30 teams to compete in the closed circuit. However, the format has since been modified, allowing top teams from the second-tier Challengers leagues to temporarily advance to the highest league.

The 30 original teams entered into four-year contracts to participate in the leagues, as disclosed by Blix.gg. After 2026, Riot has the option to either extend their contracts or select new esports organizations to join the top Valorant leagues.

The individual in charge of Valorant esports at Riot was questioned on social media about whether teams who had invested in the Challengers level would receive preferential treatment in the future, specifically when 2026 arrives.

VCT Masters TOkyo crowd before Valorant Champions — Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Valorant is about to wrap up its second year with VCT international leagues.

Faria elaborated on the impact of taking part in Riot’s esports at the grassroots level, even without receiving a stipend or recognition from the company. She emphasized that this will ultimately pay off when the reevaluation period arrives in a few years.

“While our criteria for partnership remains the same, organizations in the Challengers division are given priority whenever partnership slots become available,”Faria confirmed in a tweet.

Joining one of Riot’s exclusive leagues in League of Legends or Valorant would provide a significant advantage for numerous esports organizations. The opportunity to compete in the highly coveted VCT leagues attracted a multitude of teams to the esports scene from 2020 to 2022.

Despite this, players who were not selected for a VCT league quickly departed from the Valorant competitive scene, resulting in a lack of paid opportunities for those outside of the top tier. However, organizations such as G2 Esports and TSM persevered, determined to reclaim their place in the top level of Valorant.

Now, these teams have an additional incentive to remain in Challengers, apart from the chance to qualify for the highest level, as Riot may potentially guarantee them a spot in a VCT league over other more appealing opportunities.