Copyright Dot Esports
Riot Games has announced new updates to its VALORANT Path to Champions program, set to debut in 2026, which will allow top Challenger teams worldwide to qualify directly for VALORANT Champions. Riot confirmed that every VALORANT Challengers team advancing to the VCT Stage 2 Playoffs through the Path to Champions will receive $75,000 in financial support to assist with travel, visa, and attendance costs. “Our goal is to make it easier for top Challenger teams to attend by providing support for every qualified team,” Riot said in an announcement on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that the funding is designed to help teams reach VCT league hub locations and participate in Stage 2 Playoffs roadshows. While Riot will offer this stipend, they clarified that qualified teams are still responsible for securing their own documentation and accommodations, emphasizing that “all Challenger teams that qualify for the Path to Champions should be prepared to travel and play matches” across various global venues. Regional slot allocation for VALORANT Path to Champions Riot also revealed how the Stage 2 Playoff slots for the Challenger leagues will be distributed across the regions. Each region will send four Challenger teams to compete against International League squads for a place at Champions. In VCT Americas, the top team from both North America and Brazil Challengers will earn direct qualification, while the LATAM slot will be determined between the LATAM North and South champions. The final berth will be decided through a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) featuring the second seeds from NA and Brazil along with the LATAM runner-up. For VCT EMEA, qualification will be based on overall performance and points earned across the Challengers events. Meanwhile, in VCT Pacific, the leading teams from Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea will each claim one slot, with the fourth place to be decided through an LCQ involving South Asia, Oceania, and additional SEA contenders. As for VCT China, Riot said that further details “will be revealed in the coming weeks.” VALORANT Path to Champions eligibility and roster rules Riot outlined several eligibility and roster construction rules for teams competing in the Path to Champions. Academy teams will not be eligible to participate. In addition, bottom teams will lose their protection from relegation beginning in 2026 to “increase competitive meritocracy and create a more equitable competition within the Challengers ecosystem,” as what Riot noted. Affiliate teams, however, will remain eligible and will not need to end partnerships if they qualify. Still, player transfers between main and affiliate rosters will be restricted during the Stage 2 Playoffs and Champions roster lock periods. Riot also reiterated that all teams must follow local age and eligibility laws. For events hosted in China, all players must be at least 18 years old due to local regulations. In other regions, players aged 16 and above may compete in the International League playoffs. Teams from VCT EMEA, Americas, and Pacific will be allowed up to two imports. “We always strive to do our best to support teams and players, but want to provide transparency so that teams can plan accordingly both for their qualification runs in Challengers and the requirements for participating at Champions,” Riot stated.
