Riot reveals 2027 EMEA Kickoff qualifier path to Berlin for Valorant

Riot Games has released the 2027 EMEA Kickoff qualifier format, mapping out how Valorant teams can reach Berlin for the season opener. The path sends four teams from qualifiers into EMEA Kickoff: two from Europe, one from Türkiye and one from MENA. According to VLR.gg, every non-partner team that qualifies for Kickoff will also receive $100,000.

Those four qualifiers will join eight partnered teams in Berlin to complete the 12-team event. Riot also said some non-partner teams will get direct invites into the Europe and Türkiye Kickoff Qualifier Playoffs, while select MENA teams will be seeded higher.

Europe’s route ends with a 16-team playoff bracket

Europe’s Kickoff Qualifier Playoffs run from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5. The region’s open qualifier uses single-elimination best-of-three matches, and the top four teams from each qualifier move on to the playoff stage. Eight non-partner teams will then join them, creating a 16-team field.

That playoff bracket is double elimination, with best-of-three series throughout the bracket until the grand final. The final itself will be best-of-five, and the top two teams from the European playoffs will qualify for Berlin.

Riot’s structure gives Europe the largest number of qualification spots, but it also asks teams to survive a compressed playoff bracket after first getting through the open phase. The regional split is fixed at two spots for Europe, one for Türkiye and one for MENA, with no extra berth for a lower-bracket run in other regions.

Türkiye uses two opens, then groups and playoffs

Türkiye’s qualification path is split across two open events. Kickoff Qualifier #1 runs from Nov. 10-13, and Kickoff Qualifier #2 runs from Nov. 18-21. The Türkiye Kickoff Playoffs then take place from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5.

The top two teams from each qualifier advance to the playoff stage, where four non-partner teams are already waiting. Riot will then split the eight teams into two groups of four for GSL-style play. The top two teams from each group move into a double-elimination bracket.

Every match in that playoff bracket will be best-of-three until the grand final. The title match will be best-of-five, and the winner takes Türkiye’s only berth to Berlin.

The Türkiye route is the only one in the release that combines two open events, group play and a double-elimination playoff before deciding its qualifier. Riot did not change the number of Berlin spots available to the region, but the structure gives teams more steps before the final berth is decided.

MENA splits into Middle East and North Africa

MENA’s qualifiers are divided into two sub-regions, Middle East and North Africa, and both will run in parallel. Riot said select non-partner teams will receive higher seeding in these qualifiers based on their “2026 competitive performance.”

The winners from the ME and NA qualifiers will then play a best-of-five match against each other at the sub-regional stage. The victor from that match advances to the Kickoff MENA Qualifier Final.

That final will be held in the same location to ensure low-latency play. The winner earns MENA’s lone spot at EMEA Kickoff.

MENA’s setup is different from Europe and Türkiye because it starts with two parallel regional paths before bringing the winners together. Riot’s release does not give the exact qualifier dates for the ME and NA open events, but it does place the MENA final on Dec. 6.

Player and team requirements are strict

Riot also listed the requirements for players and teams entering the open qualifiers. Players must be at least 17 years old. They must also have reached Ascendant 1 or higher at the time of registration, or during the previous three acts.

Teams must choose a home region when registering, and that choice can only change in limited circumstances. At least three of the five starting players must be residents of the team’s home region, which can be Europe, Türkiye or MENA. Teams must continue to keep at least three residents from the home region in their Starting Lineup as they move through qualifiers, and they can have no more than two non-residents in that lineup.

There are also roster-retention rules for the playoff phase. To advance to the Kickoff Qualifier Playoffs, teams must keep at least three of the five players from the roster that qualified through the relevant Kickoff Qualifier.

• Players must be 17 years or older
• Players must have reached Ascendant 1 or higher at registration, or during the previous three acts
• Teams must select a home region: Europe, Türkiye or MENA
• At least three of five starters must be residents of the home region
• Teams may have at most two non-residents in the Starting Lineup
• Teams must keep at least three of the five players from the qualifying roster to reach playoffs
• Each player needs a valid passport and a Riot platform profile
• Team names and branding must not infringe existing trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property

Riot said eligibility for individual countries within each region is defined in the competition ruleset. It also requires a valid passport for every player and a Riot platform profile for verification purposes.

Registrations have already opened for the first round of qualifiers, with second-round registration set to open later. The qualifier schedule is staggered across the region, with Europe’s playoff stage and Türkiye’s playoff stage both running from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5, while MENA’s final lands on Dec. 6.