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VCT EMEA 2027 Kickoff Qualifiers Open Four Spots to Non-Partner Teams
Riot Games has revealed how non-partner VALORANT teams can qualify for VCT EMEA Kickoff 2027, with four places up for grabs across Europe, Türkiye, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The first open qualifiers begin on November 1, 2026.
Eight partner teams will be joined by two qualifiers from Europe, one from Türkiye, and one from MENA in the 12-team event. Each region offers two attempts through open qualifiers, although advancing from those brackets is only the first step toward a Kickoff spot.
VCT EMEA 2027 Kickoff Qualifiers Schedule
The competition runs from November into early December, with MENA opening the schedule and the final two regional spots decided on December 6.
| Region | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 2 | Final Stage | Kickoff Spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | November 5-8 | November 12-15 | Playoffs: November 26 to December 5 | 2 |
| Türkiye | November 10-13 | November 18-21 | Playoffs: November 25 to December 6 | 1 |
| MENA | November 1-3 | November 9-11 | Deciders: November 20; final: December 6 | 1 |
How Do the VCT EMEA Kickoff Qualifiers Work?
Europe
Europe has two Kickoff spots to award, but teams must first get through a 16-team playoff. Both open qualifiers use single-elimination brackets with best-of-three (Bo3) matches, and the top four teams from each move on to the playoffs.
They will be joined by eight invited non-partner teams, selected based on their competitive status and results in 2026. The playoffs run from November 26 to December 5 in a modified double-elimination format, with Bo3 matches and a best-of-five (Bo5) grand final. The top two teams qualify for Kickoff.
Türkiye
Türkiye's open qualifiers also use single-elimination Bo3 brackets, but only the top two teams from each advance. They will join four invited teams, chosen based on their 2026 results, in an eight-team playoff scheduled for November 25 to December 6.
Unlike Europe, Türkiye will start its playoffs with a GSL group stage. The eight teams will be split into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to a double-elimination bracket. Matches are Bo3 until the Bo5 grand final, which decides Türkiye's only Kickoff spot.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
MENA will hold separate qualifiers for the Middle East and North Africa. The winners from each subregion will meet in a LAN final for the region's only spot at VCT EMEA Kickoff 2027.
Both subregions will run two single-elimination qualifiers with Bo3 matches, with select non-partner teams receiving higher seeds based on their 2026 results. On November 20, the winners of each subregion's two qualifiers will face each other in separate Bo5 deciders.
The MENA Qualifier Final takes place on December 6. Riot will bring both representatives to the same location to minimize latency for the Bo5 match.
How to Register for the VCT EMEA 2027 Kickoff Qualifiers
Sign-ups for the first qualifiers open on October 15, 2026 in all four registration areas. Teams can use the regional links below, while the second qualifiers have separate registration windows.
| Region | Qualifier 1 Registration | Qualifier 2 Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | October 15-28: Sign up | November 7-10: Sign up |
| Türkiye | October 15 to November 7: Sign up | November 11-15: Sign up |
| Middle East | October 15-28: Sign up | November 3-6: Sign up |
| North Africa | October 15-28: Sign up | November 3-6: Sign up |
The invited teams for the European and Turkish playoffs have not been announced. For updates and further registration information, Riot directs players to the official VCT EMEA, VALORANT Arabia, and VALORANT Türkiye accounts.
Who Can Compete in the VCT EMEA 2027 Qualifiers?
Newly formed teams can enter alongside established non-partner rosters, provided they meet the minimum age, rank, and residency requirements:
- Age: Players must be at least 17 years old.
- Rank: Players must have reached Ascendant 1 or higher at registration or during one of the previous three Acts.
- Regional residency: At least three of the five starters must be residents of the team's home region. No more than two starters can be non-residents, and the three-resident minimum must be maintained throughout qualification.
- Roster continuity: Teams reaching the Qualifier Playoffs must retain at least three players from the five-player lineup that earned qualification.
- Home region: Teams choose Europe, Türkiye, or MENA when registering and can change regions only under certain conditions.
Every player also needs a valid passport and a Riot platform profile for verification. Teams must have a name and branding that do not infringe existing intellectual property rights. Country-by-country eligibility is defined in the official competition ruleset.
How Much Money Can Non-Partner Teams Earn in VCT 2027?
Open qualification also comes with financial support. Under Riot's 2027 system, non-partner teams receive fixed payments for reaching major VCT events:
- Kickoff or a Cup: $100,000
- Masters: $200,000
- Champions: $400,000
Prize money and other incentives are separate. For the four teams that qualify through EMEA's open route, reaching Kickoff alone will mean $100,000 in financial support.
The qualifiers are part of Riot's wider VCT 2027 changes, which replace traditional regular-season play with Cups and expand the route into top-level competition for non-partner teams.
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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