Valorant confirmed for Esports World Cup 2027 as Riot opens up the VCT circuit

Valorant will be part of the Esports World Cup for a third year in a row in 2027. Organisers confirmed this week that the game is returning for next summer's multi-title festival. The announcement comes as Riot Games prepares a major change to the Valorant Champions Tour, in which partner teams will no longer be guaranteed places at every top event.

What has been confirmed

The Esports World Cup Foundation says Valorant will return in summer 2027 but has not yet released dates, format, the qualification path or the prize pool. Its announcement named clubs to watch, including reigning world champions LOUD and South-East Asian favourites Paper Rex, along with NRG, 100 Thieves, Team Liquid, Team Vitality and All Gamers. Many of these clubs also compete for the overall Club Championship, which rewards results across several games.

Valorant first appeared at the Esports World Cup in 2025. At this year's event, 100 Thieves won the title by beating NRG in the final.

A more open VCT from 2027

The bigger change is in how teams get to these events. Earlier this month, Riot confirmed 32 partner teams for 2027, eight in each of the Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China. The partnerships last two years. Partners receive annual financial support, chances to earn from in-game items and direct entry to VCT Kickoff.

After Kickoff, though, partners will not automatically qualify for later events or international tournaments and will have to earn those places through results. Riot says the aim is a more competitive system with more openings for teams outside the partner programme. The tournament organiser's announcement describes it as a move away from closed partner leagues towards an open ecosystem.

What it means for South-East Asia

The eight Pacific partners for 2027 are Paper Rex, Rex Regum Qeon, Gen.G, T1, FULL SENSE, GAM Esports, ZETA DIVISION and Crazy Raccoon. That gives the region one team each from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, plus two each from Korea and Japan. Under the new rules, those clubs still need strong results to reach Masters, Champions or the Esports World Cup.

The more open structure could also help ambitious teams from Malaysia and elsewhere in the region. Riot has not published full details of the 2027 open qualifiers, so how many places will be available is not yet known.

When the 2027 season starts

The new season begins with VCT Americas Kickoff in São Paulo in January 2027, where LOUD will start their title defence. They won Champions Shanghai in October with a 3-1 win over Team Vitality, their second world title with a different roster. Kickoff dates for the Pacific and the other regions, and the Esports World Cup's exact 2027 dates, are still to be announced.

Key takeaways

• Valorant returns to the Esports World Cup in summer 2027 for a third straight edition.
• Dates, format and prize pool for the 2027 Valorant event have not been announced.
• Riot has confirmed 32 VCT partners, but after Kickoff they will have to earn their places at events.
• Paper Rex and RRQ are among the eight Pacific partners for 2027.

FAQ

Q: Who won Valorant at the Esports World Cup 2026?

100 Thieves won the 2026 event, beating NRG in the final.

Q: Are Paper Rex guaranteed a place at the Esports World Cup 2027?

No. Paper Rex are a 2027 Pacific partner, so they go straight into Kickoff. Their places at later events, including the Esports World Cup, will depend on results.

Q: When does VCT 2027 begin?

The first confirmed event is VCT Americas Kickoff in São Paulo in January 2027. Other regional start dates have not been announced yet.

Sources: Esports World Cup Foundation, VLR.gg, JWave, Gamer Point, Hotspawn