Esports World Cup 2026 VALORANT Playoffs Predictions

The group stage is over, and the VALORANT playoffs at the Esports World Cup 2026 are now set.

Team Heretics have emerged as genuine Grand Final contenders, Team Vitality look strongest on the opposite side of the bracket, while 100 Thieves stand out as the most interesting underdog heading into the quarter-finals.

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Team Heretics enter the Esports World Cup playoffs as Group D winners after defeating All Gamers 2-1 before following it up with a convincing 2-0 victory over MIBR in the winners match.

That result carries additional weight because MIBR also reached the playoffs and remain one of the stronger teams in the field.

That does not mean BBL Esports should be overlooked, however.

They defeated EDward Gaming twice during the group stage and also pushed 100 Thieves to three maps before falling short.

That is where Heretics gain the edge.

Unlike BBL, they avoided the decider entirely, won their group and earned a noticeably cleaner route into the playoffs.

Vitality topped one of the strongest groups in the VALORANT Esports World Cup 2026 without suffering a defeat.

They opened with a 2-0 victory over Karmine Corp before beating NRG 2-1 to secure first place.

Nongshim RedForce have also impressed.

They defeated G2 twice during the group stage, proving they are capable of competing with elite opposition.

However, they also needed the decider match after losing to Gentle Mates, making their playoff qualification less convincing overall.

Nongshim have shown they can beat strong opponents, but Vitality have looked more consistent throughout the tournament, which is why they deserve to be favourites.

Among all four quarter-finals, this is the underdog price that stands out the most.

100 Thieves won Group A without losing a series, opening with a 2-0 victory over RRQ before defeating BBL Esports 2-1 in the winners match.

That victory has gained additional value after BBL responded by eliminating EDward Gaming 2-0.

MIBR reached the playoffs through a more demanding route.

They defeated Global Esports comfortably before losing 0-2 to Team Heretics, then needed a deciding match to eliminate All Gamers.

Despite entering as underdogs, 100 Thieves have arguably produced the cleaner tournament so far.

Based on their group-stage performances, this matchup looks much closer than the current odds suggest.

NRG began the Esports World Cup 2026 with a strong victory over Paper Rex before losing a competitive series against Vitality.

They recovered by defeating Karmine Corp in the decider to secure a playoff place.

Gentle Mates should not be underestimated.

Winning Group C ahead of Nongshim RedForce showed they belong in the knockout stage, and their consistency throughout the group phase deserves recognition.

That gives NRG a small edge, although this is far from the easiest quarter-final to predict.

If one outright market stands out before the playoffs begin, it is Team Heretics to reach the Grand Final.

Few teams left a stronger impression during the group stage than Team Heretics.

Boo and koshmaras headline a roster that also features RieNs, Wo0t and benjyfishy, and the team has looked increasingly comfortable with every series played in Paris.

The bracket is another important factor. Heretics will not face Team Vitality, Nongshim RedForce, 100 Thieves or MIBR unless they reach the Grand Final.

Instead, their immediate path runs through BBL Esports before a potential meeting with either NRG or Gentle Mates.

Nothing is guaranteed in a single-elimination bracket, but compared to several other contenders, Heretics appear to have the clearest route to Championship Sunday.

Their path is far from easy, but compared to the rest of the bracket, Heretics have put themselves in an excellent position to reach the Grand Final.