VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Teams, betting favorites and odds

Bryan Francis Published March 24, 2026

The VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2 tournament will kick off on March 23 as 16 compete for a share of the $49,500 prize pool and a spot at the VCL 2026 North America: Stage 3.

It fair to say that VCL North America is one of the toughest regions in VALORANT esports. A notable example is G2 Esports, which qualified for VCT Americas last year through the VCL. The team went on to win all three VCT Americas splits that season.

Here’s everything you need to know about the VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2.

VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2 odds

Event Overview

Image credit: Riot Games

Format explained

VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2 will take place from March 23 to May 7. The tournament will consist of two phases: Swiss stage and the playoffs.

The Swiss stage will feature 16 teams competing in best-of-three series, with the top eight making it to the playoffs.

Image credit: Riot Games

The playoffs phase will take place in a double-bracket format. All matches, excluding the lower bracket final and the grand Final, will be best-of-three. The LB final and grand final will be best-of-five. The winning team will also receive 75 VCL NA points.

Teams at the VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2

The 16 teams taking part in the VALORANT Challengers 2026 North America: Stage 2 are as follows:

• QoR (VCL NA 2026 Stage 1 champions)
• Shopify Rebellion Black (VCL NA 2026 Stage 1 runners-up)
• SaD Esports
• sleepers
• M80
• NRG Academy
• Team Evictix
• Evil Geniuses Academy
• YFP
• Azure Dragon Gaming
• Alliance Guardians
• Pigeons
• Nightblood Gaming
• Rise of the Scarlet Empire (ROSE)
• Shopify Rebellion Gold
• Division One

Betting preview

Looking at the odds, the favorites to win the tournament are the runner-up of VCL 2026 North America: Stage 1, Shopify Rebellion Black. In VCL NA 2026 Stage 1, they were favorites but lost in the grand final after an undefeated playoff run.

Following the tournament, the primary duelist of Shopify Rebellion Black, Ayan “ion” Rastogi’s loan came to an end, as the player returned to ENVY.

To replace him, SRB signed QoR’s primary duelist, Smoke. This has resulted in the reigning champions being a player down. He was their primary duelist and had the fourth-highest total kills during VCL NA 2026 Stage One.

One team to watch for an underdog run is Shopify Rebellion Gold. They are the only team from the Game Changers circuit to make it to VCL NA 2026 Stage Two.

They qualified through Premier into the VCL NA 2026 Stage One promotion/relegation stage and won it to secure their spot.

In their first match in the tournament, they are facing off against QoR. If they go on to win this match, it might be considered by many as a major upset and a start to their dream run in VCL NA 2026 Stage Two.

Also read: Will Miks change the VALORANT meta? Early analysis of Riot’s new controller

Featured image credit: Riot Games