The VCT partner teams for 2027-2028 are set, and only 32 organizations made it. Riot Games cut every international league from 10 partners to eight, which pushed big names like Cloud9, FURIA and KIWOOM DRX out of the program.
Teams learned their status on October 19, 2026. The full list below combines team announcements, since Riot has not yet posted one official list for all four regions.
All VCT Partner Teams for 2027 and 2028 by Region
Here is every partner team for the new two-year cycle. China’s list was announced by the teams themselves, while most other names come from team posts and Sheep Esports sources.
| VCT Americas | VCT EMEA | VCT Pacific | VCT China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | BBL Esports | Crazy Raccoon | All Gamers |
| G2 Esports | Fnatic | FULL SENSE | Bilibili Gaming |
| KRÜ Esports | FUT Esports | GAM Esports (reported) | EDward Gaming |
| LEVIATÁN | Gentle Mates | Gen.G | JD Gaming |
| LOUD | Karmine Corp | Paper Rex | Trace Esports |
| MIBR | Team Heretics | Rex Regum Qeon | TYLOO |
| NRG | Team Liquid | T1 | Weibo Gaming |
| Sentinels | Team Vitality | ZETA DIVISION | Xi Lai Gaming |
Some early lists still showed open slots in EMEA and Pacific on Monday. By the evening, Gentle Mates, Karmine Corp, Gen.G and GAM Esports had been linked to the final spots.
Teams That Lost VCT Partnership for 2027
Cloud9 is the biggest name missing from the list. The North American org has been part of VCT since partnerships began in 2023.
Here are the teams that were not selected or lost their partner status, based on team statements and reports.
| Region | Teams left out |
|---|---|
| Americas | Cloud9, FURIA, ENVY, FlyQuest, Shopify Rebellion, LYON, M80 |
| EMEA | Movistar KOI, GIANTX, Barça eSports, NAVI (reported) |
| Pacific | KIWOOM DRX, Nongshim RedForce, Global Esports, DetonatioN FocusMe, BOOM Esports, S8UL, RIDDLE ORDER |
| China | FunPlus Phoenix, Nova Esports, Titan Esports Club, Wolves Esports, Dragon Ranger Gaming |
Not every team on this list held a partner slot in 2026. Some, like ENVY and M80, applied for the new cycle and were turned down.
Global Esports Walks Away After a Title Run
The harshest story is in the Pacific. Global Esports won VCT Pacific Stage 2 in 2026, then missed out on partnership and shut down its competitive operations to focus on GE Studios.
Most other dropped teams are staying. Cloud9 said it “remains committed to VCT and the VALORANT ecosystem,” adding, “We are not leaving,” according to The Esports Advocate.
KIWOOM DRX struck the same tone with a short message: “For whatever comes next, see you all in VCT 2027.” Nongshim RedForce has also said it will field a team next year, per VLR.gg.
New VCT Partner Teams for 2027-2028
Five organizations are new to the partner program, and each one has a different backstory.
| Team | Region | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Esports | Americas | Moves from a non-partner spot to a full partnership |
| Weibo Gaming | China | New China partner |
| Xi Lai Gaming | China | Upgraded from a guest slot after reaching every international LAN since Masters Toronto 2025 |
| Crazy Raccoon | Pacific | Japanese org returns to Tier 1 Valorant |
| GAM Esports | Pacific | Reported pick and the first Vietnamese partner in VCT |
G2 Esports Finally Gets Its Seat
G2 entered VCT Americas through Ascension and spent its time in the league without partner status. The club summed up its route on X with a simple question: “Did you expect anything else?”
GAM Esports Is the Biggest Surprise
GAM Esports has never played Tier 1 Valorant. Sheep Esports reports the Vietnamese org was picked anyway, and GAM’s own website already lists a Valorant team as “Coming in 2027.”
GAM is a household name in Vietnamese League of Legends. It has won 10 VCS splits and played at five World Championships, so Riot appears to be betting on its fan base in a country that had no partner team last cycle.
Why Riot Cut VCT Partner Teams From 10 to Eight
The cut is part of a much bigger change to how VCT works. Riot is moving to a tournament-style season in 2027, where most spots are earned through open qualifiers instead of fixed league places.
In its official VCT 2027 format explainer, Riot sums up the new model in four words: “everything is a tournament.” Fewer partners means more open spots for teams outside the program.
This is also the first time Riot has cut partner numbers in every region at once. Earlier removals, such as Movistar KOI in 2025, were one-off decisions.
What VCT Partner Teams Get in 2027
Partner status no longer guarantees a full season of matches. It does still come with clear advantages.
- Direct Kickoff entry: Partners fill eight of the 12 spots at each Kickoff in Americas, EMEA and Pacific.
- Later seeding: Partners skip the early rounds of the open qualifiers for each Cup.
- Money: An annual base payment, a performance bonus and revenue from in-game team capsules.
The capsule money is a big deal. Riot paid partner teams more than $105 million in 2025, with about $86 million coming from digital item sales, per Inven Global figures cited by The Esports Advocate. [INTERNAL-LINK: Valorant Champions 2026 bundle price and contents → https://www.talkesport.com/news/valorant/valorant-champions-2026-bundle-price/]
What Happens to Teams Without a VCT Partnership
Dropped teams can still win their way to the biggest events. Cups are now the only route to Masters and Champions, and they are open to any team that qualifies.
Riot also pays non-partner teams each time they qualify for a major stage. These are the fixed amounts from Riot’s official format post.
| Non-partner team qualifies for | Payment |
|---|---|
| Kickoff or a Cup | $100,000 |
| Masters | $200,000 |
| Champions | $400,000 |
| Game Changers Championship | Extra $100,000 |
There is one more useful rule. A team keeps its points and progress as long as it keeps at least three of its five players.
VCT 2027 Kickoff: What Comes Next
The first open qualifiers for Kickoff 2027 begin in November 2026. Four open teams will join the eight partners at each Kickoff in Americas, EMEA and Pacific.
China works a little differently. Its Kickoff has eight partners, two visitor teams and two open qualifier teams.
Sheep Esports reports that the Pacific Kickoff will run in Bangkok from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Expect Cloud9, FURIA and DRX to show up in the open qualifiers if they keep their rosters. [INTERNAL-LINK: Valorant Champions 2027 and Masters host city leak → https://www.talkesport.com/news/valorant/valorant-champions-2027-masters-korea-spain-leak/]
Frequently Asked Questions
How many VCT partner teams are there in 2027?
There are 32 VCT partner teams for 2027-2028, with eight in each of the four regions: Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China. That is down from 40 partners, or 10 per region, in the previous cycle.
Is Cloud9 a VCT partner team in 2027?
No. Cloud9 was not selected as a VCT Americas partner for 2027-2028. The org says it is not leaving Valorant and is holding open tryouts, so it can still compete through open qualifiers.
Which teams are new VCT partners for 2027?
G2 Esports, Weibo Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming and Crazy Raccoon are new partners. GAM Esports is reported as the eighth VCT Pacific partner, which would make it the first Vietnamese team in the program.
How long is the new VCT partnership?
The new VCT partnership cycle lasts two years, covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Partners get a base payment, a performance bonus, team capsule revenue and direct entry to Kickoff.
Can non-partner teams qualify for VCT Champions?
Yes. Cups are now the only path to Masters and Champions, and any team can reach them through open qualifiers. Riot pays non-partner teams $100,000 for reaching a Cup, $200,000 for Masters and $400,000 for Champions.
