FUT Esports has finished first in the VCT 2026 EMEA Championship Points standings with 18 total points, punching their ticket to VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai. It’s the Turkish organization’s third consecutive Champions appearance.
FUT picked up 7 points during Stage 1, building an early cushion heading into the second half of the year. Their third-place finish at the Stage 2 Playoffs in Barcelona added 8 more Championship Points to their total, pushing them to 18 and the top of the leaderboard.
Karmine Corp won the Stage 2 Playoffs outright, earning a direct qualification slot to Champions. Team Liquid finished second, also securing direct qualification. FUT’s accumulated body of work across the full season was enough to carry them past everyone else in the points race.
Team Liquid sits second in the Championship Points table with 15 points, followed by Team Vitality at 14.
The VCT Championship Points system rewards consistency over flash. Teams earn one point for each regular-season match win, with larger chunks awarded for playoff placements.
FUT also secured a top-6 finish at Masters London 2026. They may not have lifted a trophy at any individual event this year, but they were always banking points while other teams fluctuated.
The VCT structure was designed to ensure that the most deserving teams, not just the hottest teams at any given moment, represent their region at the year-end event.
For FUT Esports, Champions 2026 in Shanghai will be their third trip to the biggest stage in the game. Karmine Corp and Team Liquid both earned direct qualification through their Stage 2 Playoff finishes. FUT’s path was different, more marathon than sprint, but the destination is the same.