VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1

Phase 1: Group Stage (April 10 – May 10, 2026)

The opening stage features two groups competing in a Single Round-Robin format to determine playoff seeding.

• Structure: Two groups of 6 teams each.
• Match Format: All matches are Best-of-3 (Bo3).
• Advancement: The Top 4 teams from each group qualify for the Playoffs.
• Seeding Breakdown:
• 1st Place: Earns a "Bye" directly into the Upper Bracket Semifinals.
• 2nd & 3rd Place: Advance to the Upper Bracket Round 1.
• 4th Place: Advance to the Lower Bracket Round 1.

Phase 2: Playoffs (May 14 – May 24, 2026)

The post-season shifts to a high-stakes Double-Elimination bracket to crown a champion and determine international representatives.

• Match Format:
• Standard matches are Best-of-3 (Bo3).
• The Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final are Best-of-5 (Bo5).
• The Stakes: The Top 3 teams at the conclusion of the Playoffs will qualify for Masters London.