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Riot Games has confirmed that the search for a new VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA partner team is officially underway, following the recent departure of Spanish organisation Movistar KOI.

Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports EMEA at Riot Games, shared the update in a post on X, revealing that ten organisations with strong ties to VALORANT have been invited to take part in the application process. The move comes as the league looks to fill KOI’s vacated slot for the 2026 season.

“We launched an invite-only selection process to find our next partner team,” Ringland said. “We invited ten orgs with strong ties to VALORANT Esports in EMEA, including our outgoing visitor teams and Ascension teams – to participate in the selection process.”

Same criteria as the original partner teams

Riot confirmed it will be using the same framework applied when the original partner teams were selected back in 2023. Competitive performance is only part of the criteria, with Riot also weighing up fandom, community engagement, marketing strength, and overall operational readiness.

“Our goal is to find an organisation that can help grow the sport and have a meaningful impact on the ecosystem next year,” Ringland explained. “We’ve received a number of strong proposals and will be working through them over the coming weeks.”

The chosen team is expected to be revealed in October, just before the VCT Ascension tournament kicks off on 18 October.

KOI’s shock departure

The announcement follows Riot’s decision to cut ties with Movistar KOI earlier this month. The organisation, co-founded by popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, was removed from the league due to what Riot cited as contractual breaches.

Reports suggest the main issue centred on KOI failing to meet co-streaming obligations, with Llanos himself stepping back from regular streaming this year due to mental health challenges. Although other KOI staff filled in on broadcasts, Riot decided that wasn’t enough to meet the terms of their agreement.

Ibai voiced his frustration at the decision, claiming he hadn’t been given enough warning and suggesting the move may have been intended to open the door for Gentle Mates, another streamer-led team, to return in a permanent capacity.

Guest teams also at risk

KOI’s exit isn’t the only change on the horizon. Guest teams Apeks and Gentle Mates, both of whom failed to qualify for VALORANT Champions 2025, are also set to lose their VCT slots unless one of them is selected as a new partner. Otherwise, both will drop down to tier two competition in 2026.

Gentle Mates, co-founded by French creator Lucas “Squeezie” Hauchard, has remained a popular draw despite inconsistent results on the server. Their matches regularly pulled strong viewership numbers throughout the season, thanks in part to Squeezie’s heavy involvement.

What’s next for VCT EMEA

With KOI out and two visitor teams on the chopping block, Riot’s upcoming decision will shape the competitive landscape of VCT EMEA heading into 2026.

The next few weeks will be crucial as Riot reviews proposals from the ten invited organisations. Whoever is chosen won’t just be filling KOI’s shoes, but will also be tasked with helping grow VALORANT esports across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Fans can expect the official announcement of the new VCT EMEA partner team in October.