Sources: The list of teams not selected for the 2027–2028 VCT cycle

This Sunday, the verdicts came in for teams vying for partnership under the VCT’s new format. Eight slots were up for grabs in each of the four regions of VALORANT’s professional circuit (EMEA, Americas, Pacific and China). While the selection results left around thirty teams celebrating, at least as many were left out in the cold. The following table lists the teams that reached the final stages of the selection process but were ultimately not selected by Riot Games, according to sources cited by Sheep Esports and announcements made by the organisations themselves.

As a reminder, VALORANT esports is returning to a more open circuit, with the number of teams in each region dropping from ten to eight. Although partner teams will lose some of their privileges, including near-exclusive access to qualification for international events, their status will still afford them tangible advantages, making partnership a highly sought-after prospect. The teams concerned will be guaranteed a spot in their region’s Kickoff tournament, which will serve as the season opener and run in each region from January 14 to February 7.

Partnership also allows teams to bypass the opening rounds of the Open Qualifiers, which are open to everyone and determine qualification for the Cups. These Cups will effectively replace the Stages held in previous seasons. They will now be the sole route to qualification for international events, giving non-partner teams a chance to compete for a place on the global stage. The first Cup will run from April 29 to May 23, followed by the second from August 5 to 29. Finally, on the financial front, partner teams will continue to receive a base payment while retaining the revenue generated by their in-game team capsules.