VALORANT Returns to Esports World Cup 2027

Here’s what you need to know ahead of VALORANT at EWC 27, including the major stories from the 2026 tournament and Clubs to watch as the new season gets underway.

VALORANT at EWC 2026 Recap

100 Thieves shocked the world in Paris this past summer. The North American team that has struggled with consistency throughout the VCT partnership era, especially on the international stage, went on a spectacular run, not dropping a single series en route to lifting the trophy.

In the playoffs, 100 Thieves decisively defeated a star-studded Americas rival in MIBR.LOS, overcame the red-hot Masters Santiago winners in Nongshim RedForce, and capped it all off by beating none other than the reigning world champions in NRG. This monumental victory lit a spark that started a run for 100 Thieves to close out the year, as they dominated and won VCT Americas Stage 2, then secured a top-three finish at Champions, cementing their best year ever since joining VALORANT.

Faces to Watch in VALORANT at EWC 2027

The VALORANT ecosystem as we know it is changing drastically in 2027, moving from regional leagues of partnered teams to an open ecosystem with more frequent qualifying tournaments where partnered teams aren't guaranteed spots at the higher level. With this change, we will see one of the most interesting offseasons in the game’s history.

100 Thieves

If 100 Thieves keeps the group together heading into 2027, the North American roster will certainly be a contender once again. While 100T has not always been the top team in the world, the Club has found consistent periods of success since the inception of VALORANT esports. They were at their best in the final months of 2026, but perhaps the best is still yet to come.

LOUD

The popular Brazilian club LOUD were incredibly quiet in the first half of the year, and needing a spark, they turned to new talent that provided an instant spark, helping them reach the Stage 2 Grand Final, where they fell to 100 Thieves in five games. But LOUD ultimately got the last laugh over 100T, and a place in the history books. They went on a miraculous run at Champions 2026 in Shanghai, defeating legendary names in the game, including Paper Rex, NRG, and Team Vitality (twice) en route to lifting the trophy. LOUD became the first and only organization to win Champions twice, with entirely different rosters each time, but are certainly going to navigate more roster changes before the start of 2027.

New and Old Contenders

Clubs that have long dominated VALORANT, like NRG, 100 Thieves, LOUD, and Paper Rex, will certainly field strong rosters at EWC 2027, while teams with Club Championship aspirations like Team Liquid, Team Vitality, and All Gamers will see VALORANT as a massive opportunity to earn points. The new competitive format should bring fresh challengers into the mix, making 2027 a difficult season to predict, but a thrilling one to watch.

For more information, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow EWC on X and Instagram, and the Esports Foundation on LinkedIn.