South American Dota 2 teams were done dirty at The International 2026

Valve has revealed the direct invites and slot allocations for The Worldwide 2026, and there are already a number of speaking factors surrounding the large announcement. For the primary time in latest reminiscence, they’ve solely invited seven groups as an alternative of eight, however the largest controversy lies in South America being handed only a single slot within the 16-team event. 

It’s secure to say the area, together with its gamers, coaches, and followers, usually are not very glad. 

For these residing below a rock, Valve just lately revealed the seven groups straight invited to The Worldwide, with six European groups and one Chinese language staff receiving the decision.

The remaining 9 slots undergo regional qualifiers. China will get two, Europe will get 4, and South America, Southeast Asia, and North America every get simply one. That leaves the regional break up for TI trying like this:

The concept of getting 10 European representatives sounds weird at first, nevertheless it’s tough to argue towards it when Europe has comfortably been the strongest area all through the season. Six of these groups additionally earned their locations by direct invites honest and sq.. 

Nonetheless, the remainder of the allocation has left a big portion of the Dota neighborhood in fairly an uproar, as just one staff from every of SA, SEA, and NA will make it out of the regional qualifiers alive. 

The largest injustice surrounds South America receiving solely a single slot. Two of the area’s representatives – LGD Gaming (previously Heroic) and PlayTime (previously South American Rejects) – have clearly proven all through the season that they will hold with the massive boys. 

The previous Heroic roster has been a constant playoff contender all 12 months lengthy. They kicked off the season by profitable FISSURE Universe: Episode 7 and went on to safe six top-eight finishes throughout the 9 S-tier tournaments they attended. 

In case you ask me, that’s a fairly good success price and strongly suggests they’ve persistently been hovering across the international high 10 for a lot of the season. 

Extra just lately, we’ve additionally seen the rise of PlayTime, a squad that started off because the South American Rejects. They solely actually began getting the ball rolling in early 2026, however they’ve been getting higher with each event and have confirmed they belong at this degree. 

Certain, they’re a bit late to the occasion, however they managed to assert an EWC invite in such a short while, which actually says quite a bit – you may’t actually fluke your manner by the EPT Leaderboards. 

So, why are individuals complaining concerning the slot distribution? The principle outlier right here is China receiving three slots – one for the straight invited Xtreme Gaming, and two extra coming by the regional qualifiers.

Certain, TI will likely be held in China this 12 months, and the regional fanbase makes up an honest chunk of the Dota 2 playerbase. Nonetheless, many, together with myself, imagine three slots is a step too far. 

Group stats knowledgeable and Workforce Liquid Technical Director Ben “Noxville” Steenhuisen just lately posted a screenshot of DatDota’s Glicko 2 rankings for the highest Dota 2 groups.

From the info, it’s clear to see Xtreme Gaming sit comfortably inside the highest ten, with Vici Gaming – the one different aggressive Chinese language staff this season – trailing at round fifteenth place. On paper, these two groups are fully justified to play at TI – I’ve completely no points right here. 

The priority comes with the third consultant. China’s third-best staff – Yakult Brothers – sits all the best way down in twenty fourth place. In a 16-team event of TI’s scale, it’s fairly tough to justify that slot primarily based on what we’ve seen this 12 months. 

Whereas stats don’t inform the total story, Yakult Brothers have certified for seven S-tier tournaments this 12 months and completed backside 5 in each single one. If that is the likeliest candidate to take that third slot, it naturally raises questions on how aggressive that slot will likely be on the precise event. 

If Valve had already selected three Chinese language slots properly prematurely, you may’t actually argue with that. Nonetheless, a compromise was nonetheless on the desk that would have supplied a greater answer.

This 12 months, Valve merged Western and Jap Europe right into a single qualifier bracket for 4 slots, however South and North America stay separate. 

This has successfully handed GamerLegion – a staff that hasn’t made a single playoff look this season – an nearly assured path to The Worldwide, just because they’re the one staff of their area. A purple carpet was laid out for them to assert that sole slot. 

What Valve may have achieved as an alternative was merge the 2 areas right into a single “Americas” qualifier and allocate two TI slots to it. That might have made for a way more attention-grabbing bracket, with LGD Gaming, PlayTime, and GamerLegion duking it out for 2 slots. Whoever comes out on high would have absolutely earned their spots, and no one may argue in any other case.

On the finish of the day, it was at all times going to be not possible for TI’s slot allocation to make everybody glad. However man, do I really feel for South America. Again then, Valve awarded the area two TI slots although it had just one aggressive staff. Now, simply as they lastly have two sturdy squads, that chance has been scaled again to a single consultant. That’s simply extremely unfortunate timing. 

It additionally sucks that PlayTime and LGD Gaming as organizations have each invested into these rosters, and one in all them received’t even see the sunshine of the TI stage. Contemplating what each squads have proven this season, it feels actually unlucky that they’re being compelled right into a gladiator struggle for a single spot.