VALORANT Challengers Path to Champions slot distribution and eligibility revealed

Riot Games has announced further details surrounding its Path to Champions initiative for VALORANT Challengers in 2026.

This includes slot distribution across all VCT International Leagues, eligibility criteria, financial support and more.

Every VCT International League will feature four Challengers teams in Stage 2 Playoffs.

Moreover, every team that secures a place in at Path to Champions will receive a $75,000 (~£56,331) stipend to cover costs such as travel, visas, and more.

Here’s how the organisation’s will be determined:

VCL North America and Brazil will each promote one squad, while the LATAM North and South Challengers Leagues will jointly send one team.

The final slot will be decided through a Last Chance Qualifier featuring the second seeds from North America and Brazil, along with the loser of the LATAM finals.

The Challengers teams qualifying for the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs will be determined through the region’s points system across all of its regional leagues.

Riot Games will announce details about the promotion of teams to VCT China at a later date.

The top Challengers teams from Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea each will directly advance to the Stage 2 Playoffs. The final slot will be decided through a Last Chance Qualifier featuring the first seeds from South Asia and Oceania, along with the second and third seeds from Southeast Asia.

Similar to the previous format, Academy rosters will not be eligible for the Path to Champions programme, though teams are still allowed to compete in the tournaments. Riot Games has; however, removed relegation protection from the teams, and if an academy team finishes at the bottom, it will have to fight for its spot.

Affiliate teams, on the other hand, will be eligible for qualification, and if a roster advances to the VCT, the partnership does not need to be terminated. However, VCT roster restrictions will apply throughout the Stage 2 Playoffs and Champions roster lock periods.

Lastly, the minimum age required for a player to be part of a Challengers roster is 16 for the Americas, Pacific, and EMEA regions, and 18 for China.