NRG, Leviatán, 100 Thieves, and LOUD have secured their places in the VCT 2026 Americas Stage 2 playoffs. The four teams locked in their spots as the regular season wound down, setting up a knockout round that will shape the race for Champions Shanghai.
The four teams locked in
All four organizations are now guaranteed playoff berths in the Americas league. NRG and 100 Thieves carry familiar names from the North American side of the bracket, while Leviatán and LOUD represent the region's broader footprint. Each squad earned its spot through Stage 2 results, though the exact records and tiebreakers that decided the field were not immediately detailed.
The playoff list is set. What's left is the bracket itself, and the order in which these teams will meet.
What the playoffs mean for Champions Shanghai
The stakes go beyond a Stage 2 trophy. Playoff performance feeds directly into qualification for Champions Shanghai, the marquee event on the 2026 calendar. Every series from this point carries weight, because a deep run can change a team's path to the international stage.
For the four teams involved, the message is simple: win now, and the road to Shanghai gets shorter. Lose early, and the margin for error shrinks fast.
The playoff bracket has not been fully revealed, and the matchups remain open. What is known is that NRG, Leviatán, 100 Thieves, and LOUD will all be part of the next round of competition in the Americas league. The order of play, the seeding, and the schedule will determine how the knockout stage unfolds.
Each team now shifts focus to preparation. The regular season is behind them, and the pressure moves to the playoff stage, where a single loss can end a run.
The full bracket and match dates are expected to be announced ahead of the playoff opener. Until then, the four qualified teams wait to learn their first opponents — and the first step on the long road to Champions Shanghai.
