2026 Phase 1 VCT teams unveiled in the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China

With the completion of the VCT 2026 Kickoff events across EMEA, the Americas, the Pacific and China, all 2026 VCT Stage groups 1 are drawn.

In the Group Stage of Division 1, each region will divide its teams into two single round robin groups, called Group Alpha and Group Omega.

The draw for each regional team is made using seeding pools based on the teams’ competitive performance at the VCT Kickoff.

For example, the first team drawn from the group of teams that finished 11th and 12th is placed in Group Alpha of this region, while the second team drawn is in Group Omega.

All Division 1 group pools are held following the regional VCT Kickoff Lower Bracket Final.

The VCT EMEA Alpha team includes Gentle Mates and Team Liquid, two of the three teams that qualified for Masters Santiago. However, Group Omega looks very stacked across the board, featuring EMEA giants like Fnatic and GIANTX.

In addition, ULF Esports and Team Vitality will field their full rosters during Phase 1, as all of their players will have turned 18 in April.

The VCT Americas teams are pretty evenly matched. Group Omega hosts two Masters Santiago teams, FURIA and NRG, while Group Alpha features superteam MIBR. The lower-seeded teams in both groups, including the Leviatán and Sentinels, have a lot of potential to improve as the season progresses.

It is not yet clear whether the official KRÜ Esports program will have visa issues or whether the LATAM organization will have to continue competing with a substitute roster.

VCT Pacific drew a stacked Group Alpha for Stage 1. In addition to the Masters Santiago teams, Nongshim RedForce and Paper Rex, this team includes two of the biggest names in the Pacific, DRX and Gen.G Esports, as well as a promising dark horse in Global Esports.

Although Group Omega includes up-and-coming groups such as DFM, FULL SENSE, and VARREL, they have been inconsistent or underperformed thus far.

The VCT’s smallest region saw a number of upsets and unexpected results during Kickoff, leaving the Division 1 teams wide open. However, at the end of the Kickoff, some of the organizations that dominated the history of China such as Edward Gaming and Bilibili Gaming, have come out on top or at least showed signs of life again.

In addition, Group Omega is filled with teams like Dragon Ranger Gaming and Wolves Esports, who can easily upset the big names.

2026 VCT Stage 1 in all Internationals This League will start in April, after the conclusion of Masters Santiago, the first global event of the competition calendar of VCT 2026. Stage 1 will also offer Masters London qualifications that take place in June for all the top three teams in all regions.