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Choose a team you’ll enjoy watching when the tournament is over—not simply the team that wins Champions. Start with the region whose matches fit your schedule, then follow the players, play style and storylines that keep you interested. One timing note: as of October 4, 2026, Champions Shanghai is still in progress; its final is scheduled for October 18, so no 2026 champion has been crowned.
Start with a region, not a ranking
VALORANT’s four International Leagues are Americas, China (CN), EMEA and Pacific. They’re the clearest first filter: pick the scene whose match times are most practical for you, then narrow down to a team. Riot describes the International Leagues as the highest regional tier, with partnered teams and routes for Challenger teams to reach the top level. League membership and qualification paths can change, so treat a team’s current place in the scene as a season-specific fact, not a permanent identity. Riot’s International League overview explains the structure.
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Match-time fit matters more than it sounds. A team can be exciting, but if its matches routinely fall during work, school or sleep, it may be harder to follow across a season. Check the official schedule and convert match times to your local time before settling on a region.
Use Champions as a viewing sample, not a verdict
Champions gives you a concentrated look at teams under pressure, but a tournament result is only one piece of the picture. At the time of writing, the 2026 event in Shanghai is scheduled for September 24–October 18. Its group stage has sixteen teams in four GSL groups, with best-of-three matches and two teams advancing from each group. The eight playoff teams enter a double-elimination bracket. A short run, an upset or an elimination match can be memorable; none alone establishes which team will be the most enjoyable or successful to follow next season. See Riot’s Champions Shanghai guide for the event format and schedule.
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The official standings list these 2026 Champions qualifiers. They are the field for this tournament, not a promise that the same teams or rosters will be present in 2027. Check the live official standings for match status and results.
| Region | 2026 Champions qualifiers |
|---|---|
| Americas | NRG, G2, LOUD, 100 Thieves |
| EMEA | Vitality, FUT, Team Liquid, Karmine Corp |
| Pacific | Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, Global Esports, T1 |
| China (CN) | JD Gaming, XLG, TYLOO, EDward Gaming |
Compare teams on the things you’ll actually follow
Make a shortlist of two or three teams and watch more than one series from each. Riot’s own Pick’Ems guidance points to recent form, favorite players, team loyalty, statistics and personal “vibes” as possible ways to make predictions. Those are fan criteria, not guarantees of future results. Use your own viewing preferences to decide what matters.
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- Players: Is there a player whose decision-making, personality or role you want to watch? Check the current roster before attaching your fandom to a name; player affiliations can change.
- Play style: Notice the pace, coordination, aggression and agent compositions you enjoy. A team’s match entertainment can be a better reason to follow it than a single result.
- Form over time: Look across several matches or events rather than judging from one elimination game. A strong or poor day is not a full-season profile.
- Storyline: You may prefer an underdog, a rebuilding roster or a team trying to defend its place. Choose a narrative you’ll care about even when the team is not winning.
- Content and community: Sample the team’s interviews, clips and social content. These can make following a team between match days more rewarding.
- Schedule: Compare official fixtures in your local time. Convenience is a legitimate reason to favor one region or team over another.
Check rosters and the path into the next season
Don’t assume a Champions lineup will remain intact after the event. Riot directs fans to the Global Contract Database for team-level roster affiliations and contract information. Check it when a current player claim matters, then confirm upcoming matches on the official schedule rather than relying on an old tournament bracket.
The 2026 season also shows why today’s field should not be treated as permanent. Riot’s 2026 season-start update says that year’s Champions qualification used Stage 2 Playoffs and Championship Points, with a route for Challenger teams to reach Stage 2 Playoffs and compete against International League teams. Riot said four Challenger teams per territory would qualify for those playoffs and that each Challenger team qualifying for the 2026 Stage 2 Playoffs would receive a $75,000 stipend to help with travel, visas and attendance. This is the announced 2026 system; it should not be assumed to govern 2027. Read Riot’s 2026 season-start update for that year’s format.
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Keep following after Champions
Once you have a shortlist, use official channels to turn tournament interest into a season-long habit:
- Check Riot’s official schedule and current standings for upcoming matches and completed results.
- Follow the VALORANT Esports social accounts and official Twitch and YouTube channels for match coverage and updates.
- Recheck the Global Contract Database when a roster change could affect the player or team you follow.
- Watch a few matches next season before deciding whether the team’s style and story still hold your attention.
Champions Shanghai has event-specific Twitch desktop Shotcall features and watch rewards. Those are tied to this event, and reward eligibility may vary by region; they are not a standing promise for future events. Riot’s Champions Shanghai watch-and-earn page has the event details.
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Supporting a team can be digital—or cost nothing
You do not need to buy anything to be a fan: watching matches and following a team’s channels are enough. If you want an in-game way to show support, Riot’s January 6, 2026 announcement describes Team Capsules as digital VALORANT cosmetics: a Classic skin, tracker inspect, animated player card, spray and gun buddy. Riot listed a standard price of 2,320 VP and a 1,650 VP price for buyers eligible for its repeat-buyer discount. These are in-game items, not physical merchandise; check the current in-game listing for availability and eligibility. Riot’s Team Capsules announcement also reports that Riot shared $100 million with VCT teams in 2025 through its capsules-related program.
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Quick Recap
A simple way to make the choice
- Pick the region with match times you can realistically follow.
- From its teams, choose two or three that caught your attention at Champions.
- Watch more than one series from each and note the players, play style and storyline you enjoy.
- Check current roster information and next-season fixtures through Riot’s official resources.
- Follow the team that still interests you when you set aside its tournament result.
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