Patryk Stachowiak
From two-time champions Team Spirit to Cinderella qualifiers HULIGANI, here’s who’s chasing the Aegis in Shanghai this August.
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The International 2026 kicks off on August 13 in Shanghai, and for the first time in a while, the field feels genuinely unpredictable. Sixteen of the best Dota 2 rosters on the planet will spend the next several weeks fighting for the Aegis of the Immortal and a massive share of the prize pool, and the mix of names involved tells its own story — proven champions looking for one more run, a new generation of Chinese rosters on the rise, and at least one qualifier nobody had circled before the season began. Seven teams punched their tickets through direct invites, while the other nine had to fight through regional qualifiers to get here. Below is the full rundown of every TI 2026 roster, plus the form and storylines each team brings into the group stage.
The International 2026 Rosters at a Glance
| Team | Qualification | Roster |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Gaming | Direct Invite | Nightfall, Mikoto, Ws, Mira, kaori |
| BB Team (BoomBoys) | Direct Invite | Kiritych~, gpk~, MieRo, Save-, Kataomi |
| Iron Wing (1w) | Direct Invite | Pure, bzm, 33, Ari, Whitemon |
| Team Falcons | Direct Invite | skiter, Malr1ne, ATF, Cr1t-, Sneyking |
| Team Liquid | Direct Invite | m1CKe, Nisha, Ace, Boxi, tOfu |
| Team Yandex | Direct Invite | watson, CHIRA_JUNIOR, DM, Saksa, Malady |
| Xtreme Gaming | Direct Invite | Ame, NothingToSay, Xxs, fy, xNova |
| Team Spirit | Europe Qualifier | Yatoro, Larl, Collapse, not me, rue |
| Team Vision | Europe Qualifier | Satanic, No[o]ne-, Noticed, 9Class, Dukalis |
| Nigma Galaxy | Europe Qualifier | SumaiL, lorenof, Davai, OmaR, GH |
| HULIGANI | Europe Qualifier | ssnovv1, Mirage`, Corrupted, sayuw, RESPECT |
| Team Resilience | China Qualifier (1st) | YSR-04E, Echozz, niu, planet, zzq |
| Vici Gaming | China Qualifier (2nd) | shiro, Xm, Bach, XinQ, y` |
| OG | Southeast Asia Qualifier | Natsumi, Yopaj-, Raven, TIMS, skem |
| GamerLegion | North America Qualifier | Ghost, RCY, Fayde, Bignum, Speeed |
| LGD Gaming | South America Qualifier | Yuma, TaiLung, Wisper, Thiolicor, KJ |
TI 2026 Direct Invites: The 7 Teams Who Skipped Qualifiers
Aurora Gaming: The Breakout Team of the 2026 Season
No roster has climbed further this year than Aurora Gaming. A run of runner-up finishes — second at DreamLeague Season 28, second at PGL Wallachia Season 8, second again at DreamLeague Season 29, plus fourth at BLAST SLAM VII — has turned them into one of the most talked-about squads heading into Shanghai. The roster’s trump card is Mira, a two-time International champion whose big-event pedigree gives Aurora a ceiling well above “surprise package.”
BB Team: The Quiet Overachiever With Top-Eight Potential
BB Team (BoomBoys) doesn’t get discussed among the true favorites, but their results this season say otherwise. A third-place finish at PGL Wallachia Season 7, a title at PGL Wallachia Season 8, a podium at BLAST SLAM VII, and second at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 add up to one of the more consistent résumés in the field. When BB Team is in rhythm, they’re capable of beating anyone — and a top-eight finish at TI 2026 is well within reach.
Team Falcons: Defending TI 2025 Champions Face a Test
Team Falcons arrive in Shanghai as the reigning champions, and the Saudi-backed organization still carries the financial muscle and star power to be dangerous. But 2026 hasn’t been kind — third at PGL Wallachia Season 8, fourth at DreamLeague Season 29, and a 5th–8th finish at EWC 2026 suggest a team that’s slipped below its own standard. The question hanging over TI 2026 is simple: can the defending champs rediscover their title-winning form in time?
Team Liquid: Chasing a Historic Third International Title
Few organizations carry more Dota 2 pedigree than Team Liquid, winners of The International 2017 and The International 2024. Their 2026 form has been streaky — a win at BLAST SLAM VI, third at DreamLeague Season 28, second at PGL Wallachia Season 7, fourth at PGL Wallachia Season 8 — but the flashes of top-tier play are real. If it clicks at the right moment, Liquid has the roster and the coaching pedigree to become the first organization ever to lift the Aegis three times.
Iron Wing (1w): The Old Tundra Esports Core Under a New Tag
Competing under the name Iron Wing, this roster is built entirely from the former Tundra Esports lineup — one of the strongest teams of the past few seasons now playing under new colors. Since the switch, they’ve only appeared at EWC 2026, finishing a disappointing 8th–12th. Nobody’s calling Iron Wing a title favorite right now, but a roster with this much shared history knows how to find form when it matters.
Xtreme Gaming: China’s Most Consistent International Threat
Xtreme Gaming has been the standard-bearer for Chinese Dota for several years running, and even in a season with some inconsistency, they’ve kept showing up on the scoreboard — a title at ESL Challenger China Season 2, fourth at DreamLeague Season 28, third at ESL One Birmingham 2026. As last year’s TI runners-up, they arrive with unfinished business and a roster deep enough to challenge for the top spots again.
Team Yandex: 2026’s Biggest Revelation and a Genuine Title Threat
If one team defined the 2026 season, it’s Team Yandex. Titles at PGL Wallachia Season 7 and BLAST SLAM VII, backed by strong finishes at ESL One Birmingham 2026 and EWC 2026, have turned this Eastern European roster into one of the genuine favorites for The International 2026 — arguably the biggest jump in form of any team on this list.
TI 2026 Regional Qualifiers: The 9 Teams Who Fought Through
Team Spirit: Two-Time Champions Looking to Rediscover Form
Team Spirit enter as two-time International champions, but 2026 has been a step down from the standard fans expect — fourth at PGL Wallachia Season 7, third at DreamLeague Season 29, and 5th–8th at EWC 2026. Like Liquid, Spirit are in the running to become the first three-time TI champions, and their playoff experience alone makes them a team no one wants to face in a best-of-three.
Team Vision: Fresh Off an EWC 2026 Title, Tipped for the Top Three
Few teams enter Shanghai with more momentum than Team Vision (PV). A fourth-place finish at ESL One Birmingham 2026 was followed by a title at DreamLeague Season 29 and, most impressively, the EWC 2026 championship. That run has vaulted Vision into serious top-three conversation — one of the sharpest form curves heading into any TI in recent memory.
Nigma Galaxy: A Mid-Tier Squad Riding a Timely Roster Change
Nigma Galaxy have spent most of the season in qualifiers and lower-tier events rather than the Tier-1 spotlight, but a recent roster shake-up paid off with a 5th–8th finish at EWC 2026. They’re a solid mid-tier squad rather than a favorite, but the timing of their improvement couldn’t have been better.
HULIGANI: The Underdog Nobody Saw Coming
Almost nobody expected HULIGANI to be here. Their only Tier-1 appearance this year, EWC 2026, ended near the bottom of the standings — yet they clawed through the top four of the Europe Regional Qualifier to book a spot at Dota’s biggest stage. It’s the classic TI Cinderella story, and the group stage will show whether they’re a genuine threat or a one-off.
Team Resilience: China’s Breakout Story of 2026
Founded only this year, Team Resilience has become the standout story of the Chinese scene, built around known names like niu and planet. A second-place finish at ESL Challenger China Season 3 x ACL 2026 was followed by a title run through the China Regional Qualifier — a remarkable rise for a team barely a season old.
Vici Gaming: A Legendary Name Back on the Big Stage
Vici Gaming, one of Dota’s most storied organizations, returned to top-flight competition this season and immediately made noise — 7th–8th at PGL Wallachia Season 7, a title at ESL Challenger China Season 3 x ACL 2026, and a fourth-place finish at EWC 2026 that ranked among the tournament’s biggest surprises.
OG: A Filipino Roster Carrying a Legendary Banner
OG remains one of the most decorated names in Dota 2 history, now fielding a Filipino roster that has firmly established itself at Tier-1 level. Results this season — third to fourth at BLAST SLAM VI, 9th–10th at both DreamLeague Season 28 and BLAST SLAM VII — keep them outside the favorites list, but this is a roster capable of causing problems in a bracket.
GamerLegion: North America’s Flag-Bearer Enters as an Underdog
GamerLegion improved steadily at Tier-1 level this season and enter TI 2026 as North America’s strongest team, having won the North America Regional Qualifier without dropping a single map. With results like 7th–10th at BLAST SLAM VI and 9th–10th at ESL One Birmingham 2026, they’re firmly in underdog territory — but a team that qualified that cleanly shouldn’t be dismissed.
LGD Gaming: The Former HEROIC Core Chasing Playoff Contention
LGD Gaming returned to the professional scene in 2026 and hit the ground running, fielding what was formerly the HEROIC roster. A runner-up finish at BLAST SLAM VII and a 9th–12th placement at EWC 2026 suggest a team capable of reaching the playoffs at The International if they play to their ceiling.
Betting on The International 2026 Rosters
With sixteen rosters locked in, that talent translates directly into Cloudbet’s outright market for The International 2026 — every team above, from the direct invites to the qualifier grinders, carries its own odds to lift the Aegis in Shanghai. It’s one of the more direct ways to bet on Dota 2 this early in the cycle, and part of why Cloudbet turns up on most shortlists of the best esports bookmakers once a field this deep is locked in.
18+. Betting involves financial risk — please wager responsibly and only stake what you can afford to lose.
FAQ: The International 2026 Teams and Rosters
How many teams are competing at The International 2026?
Sixteen teams will compete, with seven receiving direct invites and nine advancing through regional qualifiers.
Which regions are represented at TI 2026?
Europe leads the field with four teams, alongside two from China and one each from Southeast Asia, North America, and South America — plus the seven direct invites.
Who are the favorites heading into TI 2026?
Team Vision, Team Yandex, Team Falcons, and Xtreme Gaming enter with some of the strongest recent form, though Team Liquid and Team Spirit remain dangerous given their TI pedigree.
When and where does The International 2026 take place?
The tournament begins on August 13, 2026, in Shanghai.
Sixteen rosters, three continents’ worth of storylines, and a genuine shot at history for whichever team can finally claim a third Aegis. Once the group stage draws in Shanghai, this preview becomes the baseline for every bracket conversation to come — keep it bookmarked as The International 2026 gets underway.