VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff: The Road to Masters Santiago

Competitive VALORANT is set to return for 2026 as 12 teams gear up for the VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff, the first major event of the year that will determine three representatives for VALORANT Masters Santiago. With revamped rosters, a unique triple elimination format, and valuable Championship Points on the line, the Americas is primed for an intense start to the VCT 2026 season.

The 12 Teams of VCT Americas 2026

This year’s VCT Americas season will feature 12 organizations: the original 10 partnered teams joined by G2 Esports and Envy, the 2025 VCT Ascension Americas champions. The complete lineup includes: 

Team	Roster
100 Thieves	Asuna, bang, Cryocells, Timotino, vora
Cloud9	OXY, penny, v1c, Xeppaa, Zellsis
Evil Geniuses	bao, C0M, dgzin, okeanos, supamen
FURIA	alym, artzin, eeiu, koalanoob, nerve
KRÜ Esports	Dantedeu5, Less, mwzera, Saadhak, silentzz
Leviatán	blowz, kiNgg, Sato, spikeziN, TBD
LOUD	cauanzin, Darker, lukxo, pANcada, Virtyy
MIBR	aspas, Mazino, tex, Verno, zekken
NRG	brawk, Ethan, keiko, mada, skuba
Sentinels	cortezia, johnqt, Kyu, N4RRATE, reduxx
G2 Esports	babybay, jawgemo, leaf, trent, valyn
ENVY	Eggsterr, inspire, P0PPIN, TBD, TBD

Teams that reached VALORANT Champions 2025 will receive a Round 1 bye, while others will be seeded based on their 2025 performance.

Understanding the Triple Elimination Format

The triple elimination format makes its debut in the VCT this year, giving each team three opportunities or “lives” to reach Masters Santiago. All teams start in the Upper Bracket, where the last standing squad will secure the first seed for Masters.

Teams that lose once drop to the Middle Bracket, where the winner takes the second seed. A second defeat sends teams to the Lower Bracket, a high-stakes final chance to claim the third and final Masters slot. Each bracket will culminate in a best-of-five final, ensuring the most consistent teams advance.

Week-by-Week Schedule Breakdown

The five-week tournament kicks off on January 15, 2026, and runs until February 15, 2026, with matches beginning daily at 2 PM PT.

• Week 1 (Jan 15–18): Upper Bracket Rounds 1 and 2, with opening matches leading to seeded matchups.

• Week 2 (Jan 23–25): Middle Bracket play begins for eight teams seeking redemption.

• Week 3 (Jan 30–Feb 1): Final four fight in the Upper Bracket; Lower Bracket eliminations start.

• Week 4 (Feb 6–7): Lower and Middle Bracket finals determine the last contenders.

• Week 5 (Feb 13–15): Grand Finals Week – three Bo5s decide the Americas qualifiers for Masters Santiago.

Opening Matchups:

• ENVY vs Evil Geniuses (15th January, 2 pm PT / 11 pm CET)

• Cloud9 vs LOUD (15th January, 5 pm PT / 16th January, 2 am CET)

• KRÜ Esports vs FURIA (16th January, 2 pm PT / 11 pm CET)

• 100 Thieves vs Leviatán (16th January, 5 pm PT / 17th January, 2 am CET)

Championship Points

While Masters qualification is the main prize, teams will also chase VCT Championship Points, critical for eventual qualification to VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai. Only the top four teams will earn points:

• Upper Bracket Winner: 4 points
• Middle Bracket Winner: 3 points
• Lower Bracket Winner: 2 points
• Lower Bracket Finalist: 1 point

These points could prove vital later in the year, helping teams lock in early qualification to Champions.

Where to Watch

VCT Americas will be broadcasting all of the matches live on their official Twitch, YouTube and TikTok channels. Additional language streams will also be available in Portuguese and Spanish.

• Portuguese: Twitch, YouTube, TikTok.

• Spanish: Twitch, YouTube.

With powerhouse rosters reloaded and newcomers eager to make their mark, the VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff promises five weeks of high-level competition. As the countdown to Masters Santiago begins, all eyes will be on whether G2 can reclaim their regional dominance or if another team emerges as championship contenders.

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Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Feature image credits: Riot Games

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