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The VALORANT esports scene had a bit of a stir this week when reports started circulating about a big change potentially coming to the VCT Americas. A Brazilian esports news account claimed Riot Games was looking at breaking up the league after the 2026 season, giving South America its own franchised competition.

According to the report, Riot had even been in touch with Tier 2 organisations in the region, asking about the costs of running rosters and infrastructure. The supposed goal? To give Brazil and South America a stronger competitive foundation in VALORANT, something the region has a proud history in, thanks to years of success in tactical shooters like CS2 and Rainbow Six Siege.

The post quickly gained traction, with some fans getting excited about more resources heading to South America, while others rolled their eyes at the idea of another franchised league. Franchising has always been a hot topic in esports, loved by some for its stability, loathed by others who prefer an open system like Counter-Strike’s.

But Riot has now stepped in to set the record straight. Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, replied to a post from Valorant news source ValorIntel, making it clear the rumour isn’t true.

So, while it’s clear Riot has plans for the region down the line, a South American franchised league isn’t one of them, at least not for now. The current franchise contracts run until the end of 2026, and it’s likely we won’t know exactly what’s next for VCT until much closer to that date.

For now, South American VALORANT fans will just have to wait and see what changes 2027 actually brings.