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The Valorant Champions 2026 brackets are set, and the path to the last world title of the franchise era runs through four tightly balanced GSL groups in Shanghai. Every group holds one team from each VCT region, so no one gets a domestic rematch on the way to the playoffs. Group C opens proceedings on September 24, Group D has the draw’s standout pairing of a Masters champion and the defending champions, and all four groups finish by October 4. Here’s how the draw was made, who landed where, and what each group means for the bracket at VCT Champions 2026.
How the Valorant Champions 2026 Group Draw Worked
The group stage draw took place live at São Paulo’s Suhai Music Hall after the Americas Stage 2 Grand Final, hosted by Nick Weatherlow and Tonello. The 16 teams were split into four seeding pools: Pools 1 and 2 held the teams that qualified through Stage 2, while Pools 3 and 4 held the Championship Points qualifiers. Each group received one team from every pool, with regional matchups ruled out.
| Pool | Qualification Route | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Pool 1 | Stage 2 champions | 100 Thieves, TYLOO, Karmine Corp, Global Esports |
| Pool 2 | Stage 2 runners-up | LOUD, JD Gaming, Team Liquid, Nongshim RedForce |
| Pool 3 | Championship Points #1 | NRG, EDward Gaming, FUT Esports, Paper Rex |
| Pool 4 | Championship Points #2 | G2 Esports, XLG Esports, Team Vitality, T1 |
The opening matches follow a clear seeding logic: every Pool 1 side faces a Pool 4 side, and every Pool 2 side faces a Pool 3 side. On paper, that gives the regional champions the softest openers. In practice, Pool 3 is loaded with proven winners, which makes the Pool 2 vs Pool 3 matches some of the most dangerous in the draw.
Valorant Champions 2026 Groups at a Glance
| Group | Pool 1 | Pool 2 | Pool 3 | Pool 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 100 Thieves | JD Gaming | FUT Esports | T1 |
| Group B | Global Esports | LOUD | EDward Gaming | Team Vitality |
| Group C | TYLOO | Team Liquid | Paper Rex | G2 Esports |
| Group D | Karmine Corp | Nongshim RedForce | NRG | XLG Esports |
How GSL Results Shape Each Team’s Bracket Path
Every group is a GSL-style double-elimination bracket of Bo3s, with the top two advancing. What matters is where each result sends a team. Win the opener and the Winners Match, and a team qualifies as group leader with two matches played. Lose the opener, and a team needs back-to-back wins in the Elimination and Decider Matches just to reach the playoffs. That road runs through a team that already beat someone in the group.
Group Stage Bracket Schedule for Every Group
All group matches start at either 5:00 AM or 8:00 AM EDT, which is 17:00 or 20:00 in Shanghai.
| Group | Opening Matches | Winners Match | Elimination Match | Decider Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Sep 24 | Sep 29 (5:00 AM EDT) | Oct 1 (5:00 AM EDT) | Oct 3 (5:00 AM EDT) |
| Group D | Sep 25 | Sep 29 (8:00 AM EDT) | Oct 1 (8:00 AM EDT) | Oct 3 (8:00 AM EDT) |
| Group B | Sep 26 | Sep 30 (8:00 AM EDT) | Oct 2 (8:00 AM EDT) | Oct 4 (8:00 AM EDT) |
| Group A | Sep 27 | Sep 30 (5:00 AM EDT) | Oct 2 (5:00 AM EDT) | Oct 4 (5:00 AM EDT) |
Group A: 100 Thieves, JD Gaming, FUT Esports and T1
| Date | Time (EDT) | Opening Match |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 27 | 5:00 AM | 100 Thieves vs T1 |
| Sep 27 | 8:00 AM | JD Gaming vs FUT Esports |
100 Thieves head the group as Americas Stage 2 champions. JD Gaming bring the least international mileage: China’s Stage 2 runners-up are making their first international appearance after recovering from a rough start to the season. FUT, meanwhile, are at their third consecutive Champions after strong finishes in Stage 1 and at Masters London. JDG vs FUT is a real test of experience against momentum. T1 round out a group where every side has a credible route to the top two.
Group B: Global Esports, LOUD, EDward Gaming and Team Vitality
| Date | Time (EDT) | Opening Match |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 26 | 5:00 AM | Global Esports vs Team Vitality |
| Sep 26 | 8:00 AM | LOUD vs EDward Gaming |
Group B is stacked with pedigree. EDward Gaming, the 2024 world champions, return as a host-nation team, and they qualified early via Championship Points on the back of a Stage 1 title and a third-place finish at Masters London. Their opener against LOUD, the Americas Stage 2 runners-up, may be the most anticipated match of the opening round for the Shanghai crowd.
On the other side, Global Esports enter as Pacific Stage 2 champions against a Team Vitality side that carries big-stage experience through former Fnatic stars Derke and Chronicle.
Group C: TYLOO, Team Liquid, Paper Rex and G2 Esports
| Date | Time (EDT) | Opening Match |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | 5:00 AM | Team Liquid vs Paper Rex |
| Sep 24 | 8:00 AM | TYLOO vs G2 Esports |
Group C gets the tournament underway, and it opens with a heavyweight clash. Paper Rex arrive as one of the most consistent international sides of the season, having finished runner-up at both Masters Santiago and Masters London. Team Liquid are EMEA’s Stage 2 runners-up after clinching the final EMEA spot with a lower bracket semifinal win over Fire Flux Esports.
TYLOO carry China’s top seed into the second opener. Led by IGL SiuFatBB, they completed a historic mid-season turnaround by beating JD Gaming 3-1 in the Stage 2 Grand Final. They face G2 Esports, the Americas’ second Championship Points qualifier.
Group D: Karmine Corp, Nongshim RedForce, NRG and XLG Esports
| Date | Time (EDT) | Opening Match |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 5:00 AM | Nongshim RedForce vs NRG |
| Sep 25 | 8:00 AM | Karmine Corp vs XLG Esports |
If there’s a group of death in Shanghai, this is it. NRG, last year’s champions, qualified through Championship Points, while Masters Santiago winners Nongshim RedForce are also in the field. The draw put them in the same opener, so either a Masters champion or the defending world champion drops into the Elimination Match after day two.
Karmine Corp add to the weight of the group. They took EMEA’s top seed by winning Stage 2, after a dominant 2-0 win over FUT sent them into the Grand Final. XLG Esports complete the group, qualifying for a second straight Champions through Championship Points after a top-six finish in London.
From Groups to Playoffs: Where the Eight Qualifiers Go
The top two from each group move into a single eight-team double-elimination playoff bracket. That structure gives every qualifier a second life: a playoff loss drops a team into the lower bracket rather than out of the tournament. The Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final are both Bo5. For the full playoff dates and finals weekend details, see our Valorant Champions 2026 schedule guide.
Group Stage Prize Money: What Elimination Costs
Going out in the groups still pays, but the gap to the playoffs is real. Teams finishing 9th–12th earn $30,000 each, while 13th–16th place is worth $20,000.
| Group Stage Finish | Placement | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Lost in Decider Match | 9th–12th | $30,000 |
| Lost in Elimination Match | 13th–16th | $20,000 |
Valorant Champions 2026 Brackets FAQ
What are the Valorant Champions 2026 groups?
Group A: 100 Thieves, JD Gaming, FUT Esports, T1. Group B: Global Esports, LOUD, EDward Gaming, Team Vitality. Group C: TYLOO, Team Liquid, Paper Rex, G2 Esports. Group D: Karmine Corp, Nongshim RedForce, NRG, XLG Esports.
Which is the toughest group at Valorant Champions 2026?
Group D stands out. It contains defending champions NRG, Masters Santiago winners Nongshim RedForce and EMEA Stage 2 champions Karmine Corp.
What happens if a team loses the Winners Match?
It isn’t eliminated. The loser drops into the Decider Match, where it faces the Elimination Match winner for the group’s second playoff spot.
Which pools face each other in the opening round?
Pool 1 teams (Stage 2 champions) face Pool 4 teams, and Pool 2 teams (Stage 2 runners-up) face Pool 3 teams.
Can teams from the same region meet in the group stage?
No. Every group has exactly one team from each of the Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China.
The Road to the Grand Final Starts in the Groups
The draw has handed Shanghai a group stage with almost no easy nights. Group D could send home a champion before the playoffs begin, Group B pits EDward Gaming against LOUD in front of a home crowd, and Group C opens the whole event with Paper Rex’s international pedigree against Team Liquid. By October 4, the field will be cut in half, and the eight survivors will chase the final Champions title of the franchise era. For group-by-group predictions and bracket analysis as results come in, keep it locked to Tips.gg.