In the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), an International League is a territory-level league—not one global competition. Riot organizes league play across four territories: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. Teams qualify from those leagues to global events such as Masters and Champions, where teams from multiple territories compete.
What “International League” means in VCT
“International League” is Riot’s name for each of the four top-tier territory competitions. It does not describe a single worldwide league. In 2026, the territories are Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China, with 48 teams across the VCT structure, according to Riot’s 2026 League Handbook.
That makes “international” easy to misread. League matches take place within a territory; the global tournaments are the events that bring qualified teams from different territories together.
Regional leagues and global events serve different purposes
| What to compare | International League (territory-level play) | Global event |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | Teams compete in one of the four territories: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, or China. | Qualified teams from multiple territories meet in the same tournament. |
| Purpose | Decides territory-level results and helps determine which teams advance. | Provides cross-territory competition at events such as Masters and Champions. |
| How teams enter | Teams compete within their territory; placement and Championship Points can affect qualification. | Teams earn places through the season’s territory-level results and qualification rules. |
| Format | Depends on the specific event; Kickoff and Stage 1 do not use the same format. | Also depends on the event. There is no single format shared by every global tournament. |
How territory-level results lead to global tournaments in 2026
The 2026 pathway runs from territory competitions to cross-territory events. The numbers and rules below describe that season; Riot can change them in a later handbook.
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Kickoff qualifies teams for Masters Santiago
Each International League holds a 12-team Kickoff tournament. Its triple-elimination bracket sends the top three teams from each territory to Masters Santiago. Kickoff placement also awards Championship Points, as set out in Riot’s 2026 League Handbook.
Stage 1 qualifies teams for Masters London
For Stage 1, the 12 teams in each territory are divided into two groups of six. Each group plays a single round robin in best-of-three matches, and eight teams advance to playoffs. The top three playoff finishers from each territory qualify for Masters London. Regular-season wins and playoff placement also contribute Championship Points. See Riot’s Stage 1 handbook for the season’s format and rules.
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Champions Shanghai draws on Stage 2 and Championship Points
Riot describes Champions Shanghai as a 16-team global season finale. The field combines teams that qualify through Stage 2 playoffs with top Championship Point earners from each territory. That route illustrates why territory league results matter beyond a team’s local standings: they can help determine access to the season-ending cross-territory event. Details are in Riot’s Champions Shanghai handbook.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why there is no single “regional league format”
VCT’s territory leagues are not governed by one identical tournament format throughout the season. Kickoff is a 12-team triple-elimination event, while Stage 1 begins with two six-team groups, single round robins, and an eight-team playoff. Treating either format as the universal structure for regional play—or for global events—would blur distinctions between specific events.
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For any later season, check that year’s Riot handbook before relying on these team counts, event names, brackets, or qualification routes. The 2026 handbook establishes the structure described here, not a permanent VCT rulebook.
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