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VCT Americas 2027 NA Qualifiers to Award Kickoff and Red Bull Home Ground Spots
The North American qualifiers for VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Americas Kickoff 2027 come with an extra incentive: both finalists will also qualify for Red Bull Home Ground 2026 in Los Angeles. Competition begins on November 5, with two open qualifiers leading into a 16-team playoff event.
The playoff champion takes North America's guaranteed spot at VCT Americas Kickoff 2027 in São Paulo, Brazil. The runner-up will have another chance through December's Americas Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), which also features the second-place teams from Brazil and Latin America. Four open qualifiers will join eight partner teams at Kickoff.
VCT Americas 2027 North America Qualifiers Schedule
The open brackets begin in November, followed by the Swiss stage and a playoff bracket that runs into December. The process concludes with the Americas LCQ on December 18.
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Open Qualifier 1 | November 5-8, 2026 |
| Open Qualifier 2 | November 12-15, 2026 |
| Qualifier Playoffs Swiss Stage | November 20-22, 2026 |
| Qualifier Playoffs Double-Elimination Bracket | December 1-6, 2026 |
| Americas Last Chance Qualifier | December 17-18, 2026 |
How Do the VCT Americas 2027 NA Qualifiers Work?
Open Qualifiers
Both open qualifiers use single-elimination brackets with best-of-three (Bo3) matches. At least four teams from each will advance, giving teams two opportunities to reach the 16-team playoff field.
They will be joined by invited teams. Riot will consider 2026 VCT Americas teams that do not retain partner status, as well as top Challengers and Game Changers teams. The number of invitations has not yet been confirmed.
Swiss Stage and Double-Elimination Playoffs
The 16-team playoff competition starts with a three-day Swiss stage from November 20 to 22. Teams need two wins to advance, with eight moving on to the next phase.
The remaining eight teams enter a double-elimination bracket from December 1 to 6. The champion qualifies directly for Kickoff, while the runner-up moves to the LCQ. Both earn places at Red Bull Home Ground.
Americas Last Chance Qualifier
The Americas LCQ gives the regional runners-up one final route to Kickoff. The second-place teams from North America, Brazil, and Latin America will compete in São Paulo on December 17 and 18.
The three runners-up will play a Bo3 round robin on December 17. The top two teams will then meet in a Bo5 final on December 18.
The winner of the Bo5 final takes the fourth and final open-qualification spot at VCT Americas Kickoff 2027, joining the champions from North America, Brazil, and Latin America.
How Does Red Bull Home Ground 2026 Fit Into the Qualifiers?
The North American playoffs also feed into the Red Bull Home Ground World Final 2026, scheduled for December 10-13 in Los Angeles. Both the champion and runner-up qualify for the event.
The group stage takes place at WePlay Studios on December 10 and 11, with bracket play and the final at the Shrine Auditorium on December 12 and 13. For the North American runner-up, a run to the last day of Home Ground would leave just four days before the LCQ begins in São Paulo.
How to Register for VCT Americas 2027 North America Qualifiers
Registration opens in October, with separate sign-up windows for the two qualifiers:
- Qualifier 1: Registration opens October 19 at 12 PM PT and closes October 30 at 11:59 PM PT. Register on Battlefy.
- Qualifier 2: Registration opens October 26 at 12 PM PT and closes November 8 at 11:59 PM PT. A separate registration link has not yet been provided.
Who Can Compete in the VCT Americas 2027 NA Qualifiers?
Players must be at least 17 years old and must have reached a peak rank of Ascendant or higher within the previous six months.
Teams should also prepare for international travel. Those who advance far enough may need to compete in Los Angeles or São Paulo, so players must have current travel documents and any visas required for their destinations.
Where to Watch the VCT Americas 2027 NA Qualifiers
The official broadcast begins with the Qualifier Playoffs, rather than the opening brackets. Viewers can follow the matches on the VALORANT Americas channels:
These qualifiers are part of Riot's broader VCT 2027 overhaul, which opens Kickoff and later Cups to non-partner teams. Teams that reach Kickoff will receive a $100,000 qualification payment, separate from any applicable prize money, under the support system detailed in the original open-qualifier announcement.
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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