VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai: 16 Teams and Groups Revealed

Riot Games has officially announced the 16 teams and group draw for VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai. The world championship features the top four teams from each region: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China, with a region-balanced group stage ensuring cross-regional matchups from day one. Groups A to D each contain one team per region. Group A includes 100 Thieves (Americas Stage 2 and EWC 2026 champions), FUT Esports, T1, and JD Gaming. Group B features LOUD, Team Vitality, Global Esports (Pacific Stage 2 winners), and EDward Gaming. Group C brings together G2, Team Liquid, Paper Rex, and TYLOO (China Stage 2 winners). Group D is considered a potential 'group of death' with NRG, Karmine Corp, Nongshim RedForce, and Xi Lai Gaming. The top two from each group advance to a double-elimination playoff bracket. All matches are BO3 except the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final which are BO5. The champion will receive $1,000,000 and the trophy. Notably, Riot Games used the Champions announcement to reveal that VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers will begin in November 2026, signaling a more accessible pathway for all teams. This is a strategic move paired with the season's climax. The article did not specify the game patch or agent pool, but Champions typically uses a locked end-of-season patch. With home teams JDG, EDG, TYLOO, and Xi Lai playing in Shanghai, home crowd pressure adds an interesting psychological dimension.