Six questions ahead of VCT Americas Kickoff 2026

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 kicks off on January 15 in Los Angeles, and the region has never looked more competitive. With rebuilt rosters across the board, a new triple elimination format, and three qualification spots at the first Masters event instead of the two that prior years had, this year promises to be exciting. As rostermania concludes ahead of the first VCT event of the year, it remains to be seen if last year’s top teams can continue to showcase their form while new contenders try to rise.

Can aspas finally get the backup he deserves with MIBR’s new superteam?

Erick “aspas” Santos has long been considered one of VALORANT’s greatest duelists. His mechanical skill, positioning, and ability to take over matches have been on display for years. But despite his individual brilliance, team success has been elusive after winning Champions in 2022. For too long, aspas has carried rosters that couldn’t quite reach the summit, forced to do too much with too little help.

MIBR is betting that changes in 2026. The Brazilian organization retained aspas and rising IGL Andrew “Verno” Maust, then went all-in on assembling what many are calling a championship-caliber roster around them. The headliner is Zachary “zekken” Patrone, who arrives from Sentinels after three years as one of the Americas’ most dangerous duelists. His departure from Sentinels shocked fans, but the opportunity to team with aspas proved irresistible. Together, they form arguably the most lethal duo in the world: two players who’ve consistently proven they can take over matches when everything is on the line.

Joining them are Roberto “Mazino” Rivas and Ian “tex” Botsch, reuniting three-fifths of the 2024 LEVIATÁN roster that captured the Americas Stage 2 trophy and finished third at Champions Seoul. That core knows how to win together, bringing proven championship chemistry that’s already been tested at the highest level.

On paper, MIBR looks unstoppable. But can you put five star players on the same roster and have them function as a cohesive unit? MIBR has all the pieces to dominate not just the Americas but the entire world. The question is whether they can put those pieces together quickly enough to make a statement at Kickoff. For aspas, this represents perhaps his best chance at finally capturing the trophies his individual play deserves.

Kickoff 2026 will provide the first answers, and given the roster’s talent, anything less than a Masters Santiago qualification would be considered a disappointment.

Can G2 maintain their regional dominance and finally win an international trophy?

G2 Esports achieved something unprecedented in 2025: a clean sweep of every VCT Americas tournament. Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2 all ended with G2 hoisting the regional trophy, establishing them as the most dominant team the Americas region has ever seen. But international glory remained frustratingly out of reach.

A heartbreaking grand final loss at Masters Bangkok. A fourth-place finish at Masters Toronto. An early exit at Champions Paris. The question hanging over G2 isn’t whether they can dominate the Americas again, it’s whether they can finally translate regional success into international trophies. The addition of Andrej “babybay” Francisty as a full-time starter after impressive substitute performances during Stage 2 adds another veteran presence to an already experienced roster, but the core challenge remains the same.

G2’s 2025 demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure domestically. Can they carry that composure to Santiago and beyond? Or will they remain the best team never to win an international trophy? Kickoff 2026 represents their first chance to prove the narrative wrong, and with three Masters spots available through the triple elimination format, they should have multiple opportunities to secure qualification.

The regional dominance is expected at this point. What fans want to see is whether this G2 roster can take the next step and join the pantheon of truly great VALORANT teams by capturing international glory.

Can NRG live up to their Champions 2025 performance with their newest player?

NRG enters Kickoff 2026 as the reigning VALORANT Champions after one of the most insane tournament runs in recent memory. After hovering around playoff contention throughout the 2025 season, they caught fire at the worst possible time for their opponents and the best possible time for themselves, capturing the Paris trophy with a spectacular performance when it mattered most.

The off-season brought one significant change: controller Sam “s0m” Oh announced a competitive break to focus on content creation. To replace him, NRG signed Georgio “keiko” Sanassy from Team Liquid, where he established himself as one of EMEA’s top players throughout the 2025 season. Keiko brings impressive credentials, but replacing a player who was instrumental in winning Champions creates enormous pressure. Can keiko integrate quickly enough to maintain NRG’s championship form?

NRG retains the core that conquered Paris. The question facing NRG isn’t about talent; keiko has that in spades. It’s about whether lightning can strike twice. Was their Champions run a one-time peak, or does this roster have the consistency to compete for trophies year after year? NRG’s performance at Kickoff will provide the answers, and with three Masters qualification spots available, they should have multiple opportunities to prove the title wasn’t a fluke.

Will Sentinels’ investment in Cubert Academy pay off with reduxx and Kyu, alongside cortezia’s star power?

Sentinels made waves in 2024 by establishing Cubert Academy, their tier-two development roster designed to cultivate the next generation of North American talent. After a disappointing 2025 where they qualified for all three international events but failed to make deep runs at any of them, the organization is betting big on that investment paying dividends. Only Amine “johnqt” Ouarid and Marshall “N4RRATE” Massey return from last year’s roster. Joining them are two Cubert Academy promotions and one high-profile external addition that could define Sentinels’ ceiling.

Yassin “reduxx” Aboulalazm finally gets his shot at tier-one competition after turning 18. The hyped duelist prospect has been on everyone’s radar for years, with analysts and pros alike praising his mechanical skill and aggressive playstyle. He steps into the massive shoes left by zekken after his switch to MIBR. Can reduxx live up to the hype and provide the same explosive impact zekken brought?

Mirel “Kyu” Hrustemovic completes the academy duo, bringing his initiator play and chemistry with reduxx to the main roster. The pair dominated tier-two competition together, but VCT Americas represents an enormous leap in competition level. How quickly they adapt will largely determine Sentinels’ early-season success.

The X-factor is Gabriel “cortezia” Cortez, acquired from MIBR after an impressive debut tier-one season. The Brazilian sentinel player helped MIBR reach both Masters Toronto and Champions Paris, finishing top-six at Champions and earning recognition as arguably the best sentinel in the Americas region. Will cortezia’s veteran presence and elite sentinel play be enough to carry a young roster through the growing pains?

How good will ENVY be with their two new players, and can they match their Ascension-winning caliber?

ENVY dominated North American Challengers en route to winning Ascension and earning their VCT Americas spot. But promotion came with complications: two of their championship-winning players remain underage and unable to compete in tier-one play. The organization had to make tough decisions, and they responded by signing two of the most experienced players available.

Angelo “keznit” Mori brings nearly five years of top-level experience from his time with KRÜ Esports, where he established himself as one of the Americas’ most consistent performers. His international résumé includes multiple Masters and Champions appearances, providing ENVY with a veteran presence who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. Keznit’s aggressive duelist play and clutch performances in high-pressure situations could be exactly what a newly promoted team needs.

Joining him is Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo, who gets another shot at VCT Americas redemption after a turbulent 2025 that saw him join and leave multiple rosters. When Rossy is in form, he’s one of the region’s most versatile players, capable of playing multiple roles at a high level. The question is whether ENVY can provide the stable environment he needs to showcase that talent consistently.

Alongside returning players “Eggsterr,” Matteo “P0PPIN” Weber, and Hunter “Inspire” Schline, ENVY retains the core that dominated Challengers. But there’s a massive difference between dominating Challengers and competing in VCT Americas. ENVY faces an uphill battle proving they belong among organizations with years of franchise experience and championship rosters. Can keznit and rossy’s experience bridge that gap and will the team be of the same caliber and have the chemistry of the squad that won Ascension? ENVY enters Kickoff as an unknown quantity.

Can saadhak and Less bring VCT EMEA experience back to elevate KRÜ?

One of the most compelling storylines of the off-season was the return of Matias “saadhak” Delipetro and Felipe “Less” de Loyola Basso to the Americas region. The 2022 world champions spent 2025 competing in EMEA with different organizations, gaining valuable experience in one of VALORANT’s most tactically sophisticated regions. Now they’re back in the Americas, and they’ve brought that knowledge with them to KRÜ Esports.

Saadhak’s tactical mind and championship pedigree make him one of the game’s most respected IGLs. His ability to read opponents, make mid-round adjustments, and put his team in positions to succeed has been proven at the highest level. Less, meanwhile, remains one of the world’s elite players, someone who can make game-winning clutch plays when everything breaks down. For KRÜ, the additions represent a chance at redemption.

The organization missed Champions for the first time in their VCT historylast year, a disappointment that led to significant roster changes. Bringing back two legends who know what it takes to win on the biggest stages gives KRÜ a proven core to build around. The roster is rounded out by Leonardo “mwzera” Serrati, Caio “silentzz” Morita, and returning player Jesús “Dantedeu5” Larrosa.

But the question remains: can saadhak and Less bring the tactical sophistication and disciplined approach that defines EMEA’s best teams to the Americas’ more chaotic, aggression-focused playstyle? With saadhak and Less’s championship DNA and EMEA experience, expectations are high that they can help KRÜ return to international competition.

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026: What to expect

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 begins on January 15 and runs for five weeks as twelve teams battle through the triple elimination bracket. Three will emerge to represent the Americas in Santiago from February 28 to March 15, where they’ll face the world’s best. Based on rosters and recent form, MIBR, NRG, and G2 Esports enter as favorites to secure those three spots. MIBR’s superteam has the talent to dominate. NRG’s championship experience and mental fortitude can’t be discounted. G2’s regional consistency over the past year makes them a safe bet to qualify, even if international success remains their white whale.

But the triple elimination format creates opportunities for upsets and Cinderella runs. Sentinels’ blend of young talent and proven star power could gel quickly. KRÜ’s championship IGL and elite sentinel bring instant credibility. ENVY’s aggressive playstyle could catch opponents off-guard. Other orgs could also grab the spotlight and surpise viewers: any team can beat any other on the right day.

We’ll see which rosters live up to the hype and which fall short. We’ll watch superteams announce themselves or crumble under expectations. And we’ll discover which three teams earn the right to represent the Americas in Chile. The road to Champions Shanghai begins in Los Angeles. Based on these storylines, it’s going to be one hell of a journey.