Riot Games has officially announced the 32 partner teams for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2027 and 2028 seasons, along with an explanation of its internal selection framework. The results have sparked controversy within the community, particularly among teams that were not selected.
Over 100 teams worldwide submitted proposals outlining what they could bring to the VCT and the broader VALORANT community. After narrowing down the candidates, global and regional esports leads conducted interviews with some of the teams.
The final evaluation focused on five key areas: investment in growing the game's community, community resonance built around fans and content, commercial sustainability and responsible operations, operational capabilities and existing infrastructure, and competitive performance and player development. Riot Games emphasized that historical competitive results are just one part of the overall assessment, not the sole deciding factor. The company also values clubs' local fan bases, distinct identities, long-term competitive heritage, and their ability to consistently create experiences that resonate with players.
Nongshim RedForce won the 2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff and Masters San Diego, while Global Esports claimed the title of the second stage of the Pacific region that year. However, neither team secured a partnership spot. This indicates that the new system does not simply rank teams based on championships or recent standings.
Currently, the full application materials and specific trade-offs considered during the selection process are not public. As the first open qualifiers for the new 2027 format approach, the choice of partner teams continues to spark discussion within the community.